Mahua Moitra case: Meeting of LS panel postponed to Nov 9

The Lok Sabha Ethics Committee probing the 'gifts for query' case allegedly involving Mahua Moitra has rescheduled its meeting to November 9 when it is expected to adopt a draft report on what action should be taken against the Trinamool Congress MP. 

PTI, 06 November 2023,New Delhi: The Lok Sabha Ethics Committee probing the 'gifts for query' case allegedly involving Mahua Moitra has rescheduled its meeting to November 9 when it is expected to adopt a draft report on what action should be taken against the Trinamool Congress MP. 

Initially, the meeting was scheduled to be held on November 7. The proceedings of the panel had seen high drama on November 2 when Mahua and other Opposition MPs stormed out of the meeting accusing panel chairperson Vinod Sonkar of "unethical" behaviour by posing questions that were "private and personal" in nature. 

No reason has been officially cited for rescheduling the meeting. The meeting has been convened for the consideration and adoption of the draft report and it would mean that the panel has finished its enquiry and will now be making its recommendation on what action should be taken. 

Mahua had demanded that she be allowed to cross-examine Darshan Hiranandani, who had filed a suo motu affidavit to back the claims of BJP MP Nishikant Dubey and another complainant Jai Anant Dehadrai, a former partner of Mahua, who alleged that she gave her Parliament log-in credentials to the Dubai-based businessman. 

Sources indicated that the BJP MPs in the 15-member panel want strict action, including expelling Mahua from Parliament. 

However, Opposition MPs are against any such move, claiming that she has not got enough opportunity to put her case before the panel. No reason has been officially cited for rescheduling the meeting. 

The convening of the meeting for adopting the draft report means that the committee headed by BJP MP Vinod Kumar Sonkar has finished its enquiry and will now be making its recommendation after its members ranged along party lines in their last deliberations on November 2. 

The BJP members are in a majority in the 15- member committee which is likely to take a grim view of the charges against Moitra, more so after she accused 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 the committee may make a recommendation against her in its report to Speaker Om Birla amid a possibility of dissent notes from Opposition members. All five Opposition members had stormed out of the November 2 meeting, alleging that Sonkar asked personal and indecent questions to her regarding her travels, hotel stay and telephone calls. 

She later alleged that she was subjected to a "proverbial vastraharan" in the meeting. The committee chairperson dismissed Opposition members' claims as a case of unethical conduct aimed at shielding her. 

The decision of Moitra, who appeared before the panel as a subject of enquiry and thus lacked the privileges bestowed on its members, to walk out of the meeting is likely to be taken up critically by the committee in its report. 

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey has accused Moitra of asking questions in the LokSabha to target the Adani Group at the behest of businessman Darshan Hiranandani in exchange for bribes. He said it was Hiranandani who used her login to file questions from different places, mostly Dubai. 

The TMC Parliamentarian has admitted that he used her login details but has rejected any pecuniary considerations, asserting that most MPs share their login credentials with others.