BJP Goes to Speaker Alleging ‘Cash for Query’ By TMC MP Mahua Moitra; She Says, ‘Don’t Waste Your Time’

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey on Sunday submitted to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla a complaint with grave allegations of breach of parliamentary privilege against Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra, demanding an inquiry committee and seeking Moitra’s immediate suspension from Parliament. In his complaint, Dubey cited a detailed complaint by a Supreme Court advocate, Jai Anant Dehadrai, which he has received.

The allegation against Moitra by Dubey and Dehadrai is that she purportedly asked questions in Parliament in exchange for gifts and cash from a businessman, and targeted the Prime Minister and Home Minister in an attempt to link them to another corporate. The advocate sent his complaint to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on October 14, asking for lodging of a First Information Report (FIR) on charges of corruption and money laundering. Dehadrai has submitted a copy of his complaint to the Lok Sabha Speaker as well. It is not known yet if the CBI has acted on the matter.

Moitra posted on X: “If Adani group is relying on dodgy dossier created by dubious Sanghis and circulated by fake degree wallahs to either shut me up or bring me down, I would advise them not to waste their time. Use your lawyers wisely."

She further said there were multiple breach of privileges pending against “fake degreewala and other BJP luminaries". “Welcome any motions against me right after Speaker finishes dealing with those. Also waiting for the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and others to file an FIR in Adani coal scam before coming to my doorstep," Moitra said, adding, “Also welcome CBI enquiry into my alleged money laundering right after they finish investigating Adani’s offshore money trail, over invoicing, benami accounts. Adani may use BJP agencies to browbeat competition & buy airports but just try doing it with me."

The TMC MP has been a vociferous voice from her party in Parliament and has often been seen taking on the BJP government.

WHAT DUBEY’S COMPLAINT SAYS

Dubey, in his complaint, has termed the matter as the re-emergence of nasty ‘cash for query’ in Parliament. Dehadrai’s claim is that approximately 50 questions in Parliament of the total 61 posted by Moitra pertain to protecting the business interests of a corporate. Dubey has told the Speaker that this is a case of ‘breach of privilege’ and criminal offence as well.

Dehadrai also claimed to be privy to certain private conversations allegedly between Moitra and the said businessman. The SC advocate has also claimed that Moitra had handed over control of her Lok Sabha login credentials to the businessman, which he claimed can be corroborated from IP data logs maintained by the NIC. There has been no comment from the Lok Sabha Secretariat on the matter so far.

Dubey has cited the earlier ‘cash-for-votes’ episode in Parliament to ask for immediate action against Moitra.

“On December 12, 2005, during the 14th Lok Sabha, the then Hon’ble Speaker immediately constituted an ‘Inquiry Committee on 12 December, 2005 itself, whereby, Pawan Kumar Bansal was appointed as the Chairperson. The said Committee investigated the matter, in detail and immediately submitted it Report. Subsequently, on the basis of a Motion moved by Pranab Mukherjee, then Leader of the House, 10 Members were expelled from the membership of Lok Sabha on December 23, that is, in a record time of just 23 Days," Dubey wrote.