'Unethical, Heinous Conduct': Ethics Panel Recommends Moitra’s Expulsion from LS in ‘Cash for Query’ Row

The Lok Sabha ethics committee has recommended the expulsion of Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra as MP in the ‘cash for query’ allegations it was probing against her. The parliamentary panel has said the politician’s conduct was “unethical” and “heinous” in nature, highly placed sources said.

According to the ethics panel’s suggestions, which were accessed by CNN-News18, there were “serious misdemeanours” on Moitra’s part. This comes a day before the committee is to adopt a draft report in the matter on Thursday (November 9).

With BJP members in a majority, it was already highly likely that the 15-member committee would be taking a grim view of the charges against Moitra. This became more apparent after she accused its chairperson and BJP MP Vinod Kumar Sonkar of asking filthy and personal questions to her during the hearing.

Moitra had stormed out of that meeting, supported by opposition members of the committee. Congress sources said its members N Uttam Kumar Reddy and V Vaithilingam will submit dissent notes, while BSP member Kunwar Danish Ali is also set to do the same.

Here are the recommendations made against the TMC MP by the ethics committee:

1. The committee has recommended that Mahua Moitra should be expelled from the membership of the 17th Lok Sabha due to her “highly objectionable, unethical, heinous and criminal conduct”.
2. Sources in the panel said the committee has also recommended an intense, legal and institutional inquiry by the central government in a time-bound manner.
3. It has also said the “money trail of cash transaction between Mahua Mora and Darshan Hiranandani as part of quid pro quo” should be investigated.
4. The panel has also recommended action against the “unruly conduct and spreading of rumours” by Danish Ali, member of the Lok Sabha ethics committee, on November 2.

Earlier in the day, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey – the complainant against Moitra – claimed that the Lokpal has ordered a CBI probe against the TMC Lok Sabha member for alleged corruption. However, there was no official confirmation about the anti-corruption body ordering a CBI probe against Moitra.

“On my complaint, Lokpal today ordered a CBI inquiry against accused Mahua Moitra for indulging in corruption at the cost of national security,” Dubey said in a post on X. His comment was in Hindi and, in an apparent reaction to it, Moitra said the CBI should first file an FIR to probe the alleged coal scam by the Adani Group.

Moitra posted on X, “For the media calling me – my answer: 1. CBI needs to first file FIR on Rs 13,000 crore Adani coal scam. 2. National security issue is how dodgy FPI-owned (inc Chinese & UAE ) Adani firms buying Indian ports & airports with the Home Minister office’s clearance. Then CBI welcome to come, count my shoes.” “Lok Pal Abhi Zinda Hai,” the TMC MP said on X later.

(With PTI inputs)