In a 3-page signed affidavit, businessman Hiranandani says that he resides in Dubai and came across letters dated October 14, by Advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai to the CBI
Our Bureau
Kolkata/New Delhi
Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee of Ethics Vinod Sonkar on Friday assured that the Committee will reach a conclusion after examining everything related to the ‘Cash for Query’ scandal, that allegedly involves Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra. He further informed that the meeting of the Ethics Committee has been called on October 26 where TMC MP Mahua Moitra will be also examined and BJP MP Nishikant Dubey will also be asked to be present with the evidence.
Dubey had claimed that a Supreme Court lawyer had levelled allegations of bribe exchanges between the TMC MP and businessman Darshan Hiranandani.
In his letter titled “Re-emergence of nasty ‘Cash for Query’ in Parliament”, Dubey has alleged “‘serious Breach of Privilege’, ‘Contempt of the House’ and a ‘Criminal Offence’ under Section 120A of IPC” by the Trinamool Congress MP.
“In his 3-page signed affidavit to the Ethics panel, Darshan Hiranandani had admitted to his friendship with the TMC MP Mahua Moitra and claimed that the Lok Sabha Member saw attacking the Adani group as a route to fame, She became Lok Sabha MP in May 2019. She was advised by her friends that the shortest route to fame was by attacking Narendra Modi. She thought that the only way to attack PM Modi was by attacking Gautam Adani and his group as they both come from Gujarat,” Hiranandani’s affidavit read.
Hiranandani had further claimed that Mahua Moitra did share her Parliament Login credentials with him.
“Everything will be examined by the Committee first, TMC MP Mahua Moitra will be also examined, and after all this, the Committee will reach a conclusion,” he added.
Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) agenda is to expel me from the Lok Sabha.
“Chairman Ethics Committee openly speaks to media. Please see the Lok Sabha rules below. How does an “affidavit” find its way to media? Chairman should first do an enquiry into how this was leaked. I repeat – BJP 1 point agenda is to expel me from LS to shut me up on Adani,” Moitra posted on X (Formerly Twitter).
Earlier, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, in a two-page statement, replied to the affidavit of businessman Darshan Hiranandani, alleging that “he was forced to sign a white paper.”
The MP has also raised questions over the credibility of the affidavit that Hiranandani reportedly submitted to the Parliament Ethics committee, claiming that it is “neither on official letterhead nor notarized” and that the contents of the letter are “a joke.”
Further, attacking the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the TMC leader said, “Paragraph 12 claims that Darshan gave in to my demands because he was fearful of displeasing me. Darshan and his father run one of India’s largest business groups and their recent projects in UP and Gujarat have been inaugurated by the CM of Uttar Pradesh and by the Prime Minister. Darshan accompanied the PM abroad as part of his business delegation very recently. Why would such a wealthy businessman who enjoys direct access to every minister and the PMO be coerced by a first-time opposition MP into giving her gifts and giving into her demands?”
In his 3-page signed affidavit, Hiranandani says that he resides in Dubai and came across letters dated October 14, by Advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai to the CBI and to BJP MP Nishikant Dubey where his name figured prominently. He says he has been following the events carefully.
Hiranandani then claims that Mahua Moitra did share her Parliament Login credentials with him. “She knew that Indian Oil Corporation was getting into an arrangement with Dhamra LNG a joint venture of the Adani group….. She drafted a few questions that she could raise in parliament that would have elements to embarrass the Govt and target the Adani group. She shared with me her email ID as MP, so I could send her information and she could raise the questions. I went along with her proposal” he claims in his affidavit.
