Lok Sabha Speaker sends 'Cash for Query' complaint against Mahua Moitra to ethics committee

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday (17 October) took cognisance of a complaint made by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, wherein Dubey alleged that the lawmaker from West Bengal received "bribes" from a businessman in exchange for asking questions in Parliament. The complaint, labelled as a "cash for query" case, has been forwarded to the Lok Sabha ethics committee for further examination by Om Birla.Nishikant Dubey's complaint to Speaker Birla, submitted on Sunday, emphasises the “re-emergence of nasty "cash for query” in Parliament" and accuses Mahua Moitra of a "serious breach of privilege," "contempt of the House," and a "criminal offence" under Section 120-A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).In his communication to the Speaker, Dubey gave references of a letter he received from an advocate containing what he deems "irrefutable" evidence of illicit transactions between Mahua Moitra and a business tycoon.Nishikant Dubey's letter to Om Birla points out that out of the 61 questions Moitra posed in the Lok Sabha, a total of 50 of them were directed towards the Adani Group, a business conglomerate frequently criticised by the TMC MP for alleged malpractices, particularly following a critical report on short-selling by Investment research firm - Hindenburg.Dubey urged Speaker Birla to establish an "inquiry committee" to investigate the charges against Moitra, as he strongly believes that her actions indicate a "criminal conspiracy" to promote and safeguard the business interests of businessman Darshan Hiranandani by posing Parliamentary questions.Dubey drew parallels to the infamous "cash for query" episode of December 12, 2005, where several MPs were exposed for allegedly seeking bribes in exchange for questions in Parliament.“There is not an iota of doubt about a criminal conspiracy hatched by Mahua Moitra to garner and protect the business interests of a businessman – Shri Darshan Hiranandani – by asking Parliamentary Questions, which is reminiscent of ‘Cash for Query’ episode of 12 December 2005,” the BJP MP said.Highlighting that the memberships of 11 MPs were revoked based on the recommendations of an inquiry committee within just 23 days of its formation, Dubey insists that Mahua Moitra should undergo a similar inquiry and suspension from the House until the report is presented.

Advertisement

Lok Sabha Speaker sends 'Cash for Query' complaint against Mahua Moitra to ethics committee

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has sent BJP MP Nishikant Dubey's complaint against TMC MP Mahua Moitra to the Lok Sabha ethics committee

Advertisement