Mahua Moitra To Appear Before Lok Sabha Ethics Committee On November 2
Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra informed that she will appear before the Lok Sabha Ethics Panel on Thursday, November 2. The Trinamool Congress MP was originally summoned to appear on October 31 in connection with the “Cash-for-Query” scandal. On November 1, the lawmaker took it to her X handle to share the letter she submitted to the Ethics Committee.
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. pic.twitter.com/A8MwFRsImk
— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) November 1, 2023
“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,” Mahua Moitra wrote on X while sharing the letter. In the letter to Vinod Kumar Sonkar, the chairperson of the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee, Mahua Moitra mentioned that she requested a hearing date after November 5, but the panel rejected an extension beyond November 2. Ms Moitra also added that the panel is forcing her to appear before it on a date that is clashing with her constituency commitments.
Mahua Moitra also said that she should be allowed to cross-examine complainant Darshan Hiranandani, as Hiranandani has not provided any documentary evidence to support his allegations. Ms Moitra also expressed her desire to cross-examine complainant Jai Anant Dehadrai. “I wish to place on record that any enquiry without allowing me the opportunity to cross-examine will be incomplete and unfair.” Notably, Ms Moitra also asked whether the Ethics Panel is the right forum to probe the allegations of alleged criminality. Ms Moitra added that the Parliamentary committees do not have criminal jurisdiction, and such investigations can be done only by law enforcement agencies. Earlier, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey had accused TMC MP Mahua Moitra of taking bribes from Darshan Hiranandani to ask questions in parliament.
