Cash for query row: CBI registers preliminary enquiry against Mahua Moitra

Moitra was last week tasked with strengthening the party's organisation in Nadia district, in a clear message of support from the TMC.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has initiated enquiry  against Trinamool Congress' Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra in connection with 'cash to query' case.

Sources said the central agency started investigating Moitra after Lokpal ordered a probe into alleged "quid pro quo" regarding her parliamentary questions.

Meanwhile, Moitra on X (formerly Twitter) denied the news development, saying, "Neither has Lok Pal uploaded any referral order on website as per Lokpal Act & nor has CBI put out anything official. “Sources” telling journos as per usual media circus. Hope ₹13,000 crore Adani coal scam merits CBI PE before my witchhunt."

Neither has Lok Pal uploaded any referral order on website as per Lokpal Act & nor has CBI put out anything official. “Sources” telling journos as per usual media circus.

Hope ₹13,000 crore Adani coal scam merits CBI PE before my witchhunt.

— Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) November 25, 2023

Moitra who represents the Krishnanagar Parliamentary constituency of  West Bengal was accused by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey of letting a Dubai-based businessman to access her parliamentary portal in lieu of bribes following which the Lok Sabha's Ethics Committee recommended her expulsion.

Moitra had admitted to sharing her log-in credentials with businessman Darshan Hiranandani, but denied the bribery charges, dismissing her indictment by the parliamentary panel as a decision of a "kangaroo court".

Sharing the secretariat's bulletin on X (formerly Twitter), Dubey took a swipe at Moitra saying the "corrupt MP was probably not informed of these rules by a PA like Hiranandani".

The House is likely to take a decision on the Ethics Committee's recommendation for Moitra's expulsion during the Winter Session of Parliament  starting on December 4 and will continue till December 22 having 15 sittings spread over 19 days.

Moitra was last week tasked with strengthening the party's organisation in Nadia district, in a clear message of support from the TMC leadership. West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee earlier this week broke her silence over the issue and said that plans were in the works to expel her (Moitra) from Parliament but any such action would help the lawmaker from Krishnanagar ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

"Now, they are planning to expel Mahua (from Parliament). She will become more popular as a result. Whatever she used to say inside (Parliament), she will now say those things outside. Would anyone do something like this three months before the elections if he is not stupid?" Banerjee said, addressing a special session of the party in Kolkata.

(With agency inputs)