Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra is set to appear before the ethics committee today in the cash-for-query case. Just ahead of her appearance, the MP shared a copy of the letter that she had written to the panel on Wednesday.
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.
Sharing the letter, dated October 31 on X, Moitra 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 says, “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.”
What The Letter Said
She 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.