How did Adani-owned NDTV have access to confidential information: TMC MP Mahua Moitra

Amidst the ongoing cash-for-query investigation, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has brought attention to a potential breach of privilege. She took to X (formerly Twitter) on Thursday to express her concern and question how the Gautam Adani-owned media organization, NDTV, obtained access to a confidential report.

In a copy of letter addressed to Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla, Moitra mentioned that she is being targeted for speaking against the corporate giant. "It is absolutely shocking how a channel owned by this group has access to a confidential committee report which is the subject of my alleged unethical conduct," her letter read.

She further said that it is "total breakdown" of all due process and rules of the Lok Sabha.



The Ethics Committee, formed to probe bribery charges against Moitra, will meet today (Thursday) to adopt a draft report on the cash-for-query allegation.

Earlier today, BJP MP and member of the Ethics Committee of Parliament Rajdeep Roy said that the committee probing bribery charges against TMC MP Mahua Moitra has taken a few decisions and adoption of the report will happen today.

"All evidences from govt & MeiTY are not telling good of the issue. There is no appearance before the Committee today," ANI quoted him as saying.

Meanwhile, the committee chairman Vinod Sonkar said, "The complaint made by Nishikant Dubey and affidavit submitted by Hiranandani, in the two meetings before this, we examined the complains and Mahua Moitra's statement was also recorded. After all this, today an ethics committee meeting is taking place, we'll discuss all the issues and send the proposal to the Lok Sabha Speaker...The committee will take a decision on the basis of all facts and send the proposal to the LS Speaker."

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey had approached Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla against Moitra, accusing her of asking questions in Lok Sabha to target the Adani Group at the behest of businessman Darshan Hiranandani in exchange for gifts.

The committee is likely to take a grim view of the charges against Moitra, more so after she accused its chief Vinod Kumar Sonkar of asking filthy and personal questions to her in the last meeting before walking out in a rage along with opposition members.

There are indications that the committee may make a recommendation against Moitra in its report to Speaker Birla amid a possibility of dissent notes from opposition members.

According to PTI sources, the committee is also expected to underline its unhappiness at the conduct of some opposition members during its proceedings and make a mention of it in its recommendations to the House.

They said the committee may make recommendation against BSP member Danish Ali, who was loudest in his attack on Sonkar's "indecent and personal" questions to Moitra.

Sonkar had described the conduct of members like Danish Ali and JD (U)'s Giridhari Yadav unethical.

(With inputs from agencies)