BJP has ‘irrefutable evidence’ of Mahua Moitra taking Bribes

Mahua Moitra, a vocal critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, is facing allegations of seeking bribes in exchange for raising questions in parliament. 

Representing the Trinamool Congress party (TMC) in West Bengal, Moitra vehemently denies these accusations and expresses her readiness to cooperate with any investigation.

On November 2, 2023, she appeared before the ethics committee of the Lok Sabha, India’s lower house of parliament, which commenced its inquiry last week.

Moitra had initially requested a delay due to prior commitments but was “categorically denied” and the committee “forced her to appear before it” on a date that clashed with her “constitutional commitments.”

In a letter released on November 1, 2023, she questioned whether the ethics committee had the appropriate authority to investigate criminal allegations, saying:

“It does not have criminal jurisdiction and no mandate to investigate alleged criminality.”

“This can only be done by law enforcement agencies.”

These proceedings against Mahua Moitra were initiated following a complaint by Nishikant Dubey, an MP from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Dubey alleged that Moitra had posed numerous questions targeting the Adani group in exchange for gifts and cash from a rival businessman, Darshan Hiranandani.

The Adani group is a massive business conglomerate in India, headed by Gautam Adani, who has a net worth of approximately £45 billion. 

The Adani group faced scrutiny earlier in 2023 following allegations of stock manipulation and accounting fraud by Hindenburg Research, which they strongly refuted.

Dubey’s complaint contended that a significant portion of Moitra’s questions focused on the Adani group.

He specifically stated that 50 of 61 questions that Mahua Moitra asked were directed towards the huge corporation. 

Furthermore, he accused her of receiving bribes amounting to Rs 20 million ($240,542 / £197,700) from Mr. Hiranandani.

The BJP leader claimed to possess “irrefutable evidence” against Moitra, which originated from Jai Anant Dehadrai, a figure that Moitra referred to as a “jilted ex”

On October 19, Hiranandani submitted a sworn statement to the ethics committee, alleging that the TMC leader was intentionally targeting Adani “for becoming famous”.

Moitra firmly denies all allegations and has filed defamation cases against Dubey and Dehadrai in the Delhi High Court.

In her statement on Wednesday, Mahua Moitra called for the parliamentary panel to permit her to cross-question Dehadrai and Hiranandani.

She emphasised that neither of them “have given any documentary proof to back the allegations of bribery” against her.

Moitra further added in her statement that any inquiry without granting her the opportunity to cross-examine them would be considered “incomplete and unfair”.