Open to answering questions to CBI & Ethics Committee: Mahua Moitra on 'Cash for Query' scandal

Trinamool Congress (MP) Mahua Moitra on Friday welcomed the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee enquiry into the 'Cash for Query' scandal and said that she is ready to answer the questions of the panel when Committee calls her.

In a post on social media platform X, Mahua Moitra said," I welcome answering questions to the CBI & Ethics Committee (which has an absolute majority of BJP members) if and when they call me. I have neither time nor interest to feed an Adani-directed media circus trial or answer BJP trolls. I am enjoying Durga Puja in Nadia. Shubho Sashthi."

Earlier today Advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai in a post on X, alleged that attempts were made towards him to withdraw his complaint registered at the Central Bureau of Investigation.


"An attempt was made yesterday afternoon, to coerce me into withdrawing my CBI complaint and letter to Nishikant Dubey, in exchange for Henry (his dog). I flatly refused - will give details to CBI. Messenger is totally innocent - but tells you everything about her," the Advocate went on to say in what appears to be a dig at TMC MP Mahua Moitra against whom the allegations of 'Cash for Query' have been made.

As per BJP MP Nishikant Dubey's complaint to the Parliament Ethics Committee, Advocate Dehadrai presented evidence to him suggesting TMC MP Mahua Moitra's participation in the alleged 'Cash for Query' controversy.

Previously, businessman Darshan Hiranandani, who was supposedly linked to the alleged payments in the 'Cash for Query' scandal, responded with a three-page affidavit. In it, he asserted that Mahua Moitra pursued notoriety by targeting the Adgroup.


Furthermore, Hiranandani alleged that Mahua Moitra shared her Parliament Login credentials with him.

Questioning the credibility of Darshan Hiranandani's affidavit, TMC MP Mahua Moitra said, "The affidavit is on white paper, and not an official letterhead or notarized. Why would one of India's most respected/educated businessmen sign a letter like this on white paper unless a gun was put on his head to do it?

"The contents of the letter are a joke. It has clearly been drafted by some half-wit in the PMO who doubles up as a creative writer in the BJP's IT cell. It sings paeans to Modi and Gautam Adani while linking every opponent of theirs to me and my alleged corruption," Moitra said.

Alleging that Businessman Hiranandani was "compelled" to sign the letter, Moitra said, "The PMO held a proverbial gun to Darshan and his father's heads and gave them 20 minutes to sign this letter sent to them. They were threatened with a total shutdown of all their businesses. They were told they would be finished, the CBI would raid them and all government business would stop and all PSU bank financing would be stopped immediately."

Earlier Nishikant Dubey in his letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker, titled "Re-emergence of nasty 'Cash for Query' in Parliament" had alleged "'serious Breach of Privilege', 'Contempt of the House' and a 'Criminal Offence' under Section 120A of IPC" by the Trinamool Congress MP. Dubey claimed that an Advocate, Jai Anant Dehadrai had provided him with proof of a bribe.

In her response to this letter the TMC MP had said that she would welcome a probe by the speaker after he dealt with alleged breach of privilege by other BJP MPs.

(With ANI inputs)