'Filthy Questions': Mahua Moitra Storms Out of Ethics Panel Meet Over 'Cash For Query' Case | WATCH

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, who appeared before the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee on Thursday in the alleged ‘cash-for-query’ case, stormed out of the meeting.

While leaving the meeting, Moitra said that the panel asked “filthy questions”.

Moitra has been embroiled in a political controversy, following BJP MP Nishikant Dubey’s letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, where it has been alleged that Moitra received bribes from businessman Darshan Hiranandani to target the Adani Group.

Janata Dal (United) MP Giridhari Yadav, who was also present, said: “They asked personal questions to the Mahua Moitra. They do not have the right to ask personal questions, so we walked out.”

Congress MP Uttam Kumar Reddy also added: “The whole line of questions it seems that he’s (Parliament Ethics Committee Chairman) acting on somebody’s behest. It is very, very bad. For two days we have been asking him some things…They are asking her (Mahua Moitra) where are you travelling? Where are you meeting? Can you give us your phone records?… There is no evidence of any cash transfer…”

Mohua’s Letter Ahead of In-person Meet 

Sharing the letter, dated October 31 on X, Moitra had on Wednesday said: “Since Ethics Committee deemed it fit to release my summons to the media I think it is important I too release my letter to the Committee before my hearing tomorrow”.

In the letter, Moitra said she will appear before the panel on November 2 and will demolish the complaint of cash-for-query against her.

‘I Don’t Get Bullied By Anybody’: Jai Anant Dehadrai

Commenting on Mohua Moitra facing the panel today, Advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai, said to be the TMC MP’s estranged partner, said, “I can’t comment about anybody else. It is a free country, anybody can say what they like. There are consequences to things that people say and at the appropriate time, I will certainly come out and explain as to what has happened. I will come out with the truth. I am not afraid of anybody, I don’t get bullied by anybody. If somebody is trying to alter the narrative by trying to play the victim, the whole country is watching. I think the public is very intelligent, they know what is happening.”

For the unversed, a public spat sparked between Supreme Court lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai and TMC MP Mahua Moitra, with the former partners having a bitter battle over who gets the custody of their dog, a three-year-old Rottweiler, Henry. Henry is with Moitra at present.

The ongoing tussle between Moitra and Dehadrai over their pet dog took another turn last month when BJP MP Nishikant Dubey said he received a letter from Dehadrai, adding that the lawyer had shared “irrefutable” evidence that Moitra had taken bribes in the form of “cash” and “gifts” from business tycoon Darshan Hiranandani to ask questions in Parliament.

What The Letter Said

Mahua Moitra stated in the letter yesterday that parliamentary committees lack criminal jurisdiction and emphasised the importance of involving law enforcement agencies in such cases. Moitra also expressed her desire to cross-examine alleged “bribe-giver,” Hiranandani, who submitted an affidavit to the committee “without offering substantial evidence”.

The Lok Sabha MP also sought to cross-examine the complainant, Jai Anant Dehadrai, who she claimed provided no documentary evidence to support the charges.

“In light of the seriousness of the allegations, it is imperative that the alleged ‘bribe-giver’ Darshan Hiranandani, who has given a ‘suo-moto’ affidavit to the Committee with scant details and no documentary evidence whatsoever, be called to depose before the Committee and provide the said evidence in the form of a documented itemised inventory with amounts, date etc,” she said.

“I wish to place on record that in keeping with the principles of natural justice I wish to exercise my right to cross-examine Hiranandani,” she said.

Dehadrai Accuses Mahua of ‘Something Far Worse’

In a cryptic post yesterday, Jai Anant Dehadrai, the Supreme Court lawyer who Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra once called a “jilted ex”, said “the person accused of corruption and compromising national security is guilty of something far worse.”

Even without taking any name, Dehadrai made it quite clear in his post on microblogging platform X that he was referring to Mahua Moitra as he said he is not talking about the theft of his dog.

“The person accused of corruption and compromising national security is guilty of something far worse – and no – I’m not talking about the theft of my dog,” Dehadrai’s X post, with a photo of him with his pet dog ‘Henry’, read.