Cash-for-Query queue: Ethics panel’s draft report criticizes Mahua Moitra for ‘unethical behaviour’, says login accessible 47 times from UAE
A meeting of the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee is currently underway, which is probing the allegations against Mahua Moitra.
New Delhi: Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra engaged in ‘unethical conduct’ and shared her parliamentary login ID and password with unauthorized people, which was used at least 47 times to gain entry from the UAE, the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee said in its draft report, a report said.
Citing sources, an ANI report said the Ethics Panel in its draft report has accused Moitra of being involved in ‘unethical conduct’ and sharing her ID login and password with unauthorized persons.
Opposition MPs have expressed dissenting views on the draft, the report said.
“A common ground for all opposition MPs to file a dissent is that the investigation is not fair. They have said that Darshan Hiranandani should have been summoned by the committee to ensure a free and fair investigation in all respects,” the report quoted sources as saying.
A meeting of the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee, which is probing the allegations against Mahua Moitra, is currently underway where the panel is likely to adopt a 500-page draft report on the allegations against the TMC leader.
Moitra’s login was used 47 times from the UAE
According to the sources, the draft report on Mahua Moitra’s money-for-questions case reveals that she visited the UAE four times between 2019 and 2023, while her login was used several times, the ANI report said.
“On 47 occasions, its member portal login details were accessed from Dubai,” the ethics committee’s draft report said.
The Ethics Committee has sought detailed reports from Information Technology (IT) and the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on IP address and location. It also seeks MHA’s input on the dangers of sharing credentials, highlighting the legal ramifications under section IT ACT 2000.
However, the draft report suggested several findings including: “The serious crimes on the part of Mahua Moitra call for severe punishment. The committee, therefore, recommends that Mahua Moitra, Member of Parliament, may be disqualified from membership of the Seventeenth Lok Sabha.”
“Considering the highly condemnable, unethical, heinous and criminal conduct of Mahua Moitra, the committee recommends an intensive, legal, institutional investigation by the Government of India in a time-bound manner,” it added.
‘Unethical behavior’
The draft report further stated: “Unethical conduct” and “contempt of the House” by Mahua Moitra by way of accepting money – cash and kind, amenities and various other facilities by Mahua Moitra, MP from Darshan Hiranandani, Business Tycoon, based in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.”
“The ‘money trail’ of cash transactions between Mahua Moitra and Darshan Hiranandani as part of ‘quid pro quo’ should be.”
The extensive draft report consists of approximately 500 pages.
A further report stated that “Darshan Hiranandani, an Indian citizen with residency rights in the UAE.
Eviction on cards for Moitra
Citing sources, the report said the committee may recommend expulsion of Mahua Moitra from the Lok Sabha and take action against Danish Bahujan Samaj Party MP Ali, who is a member of the committee.
Earlier today, Mahua Moitra wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, alleging a violation of the rules of the House of Representatives, alleging that the draft report of the Lok Sabha Committee on Ethics was accessed through a news channel. She alleged that since the media house was owned by the Adani group, this was a matter of corporate fraud and regulatory violation.
Cash-for-query row
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey had approached Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla against Mahua Moitra and accused her of raising questions in Lok Sabha to attack Adani Group at the behest of businessman Darshan Hiranandani in return for cash and gifts.
‘Adani wanted to make a deal’
On October 27, Moitra leveled explosive charges against business tycoon Gautam Adani, alleging that the Adani Group chairman had approached her twice in the last three times through two Lok Sabha MPs and “wanted to work out a deal”.
Moitra alleged that Adani wanted to sit down with her and offer her a deal, but she rejected his advances and refused to meet him.
“Mr Adani has approached me through two Lok Sabha MPs over the last three years to sit at the table with him and work out a deal which I rejected,” India Today had quoted Mahua Moitra.
The TMC leader alleged that Gautam Adani offered her money not to ask questions in the House of Representatives.
“The problem is that he gave cash not to ask questions,” she had said, according to India Today.
Moitra said she rejected Adani’s ‘deal’ and never met him personally even though the billionaire approached her twice in three years ‘through two Lok Sabha MPs’. Mahua, however, did not mention the names of the two MPs who allegedly approached her on Adani’s behalf.
(With ANI inputs)