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- Published: October 16, 2023 18:45
New Delhi: Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra has found herself in the line of fire over alleged role in ‘cash for query scam’, with calls for her resignation gaining momentum. The Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) has demanded that TMC MP must step down with immediate effect for flagrant violation of Parliamentary procedures & breach of protocols.
The ‘cash for query’ scam erupted on Sunday, after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey wrote a letter to Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla seeking Moitra’s immediate suspension from the house. He alleged that the TMC MP took bribes from businessman Darshan Hiranandani for asking questions in Parliament.
The BJP MP accused TMC leader of breach of Parliamentary privilege, contempt of House and also criminal conspiracy.
In letter to Speaker, Dubey claimed that an advocate named Jai Anand Dehadrai shared with her ‘irrefutable evidence’ about Moitra asking questions in Parliament in exchange for cash & gifts.
TMC leader refuted all the charges against her and welcomed ‘witch hunt’ against her. She has also reportedly sent a legal notice to the BJP MP, accusing him of hatching plot to defame her.
“Am using all my ill gotten cash & gifts to buy a college/ university in which Degree Dubey can finally buy a real degree,” she wrote on X.
Notably, the political slugfest between two fiery lawmakers of both parties is not new and have also had heated exchanges at past couple of occasions.
Who is Darshan Hiranandani?
Amid the political slugfest, Darshan Hiranandani, the CEO of Hiranandani Group has found himself in the centre of allegations-counter allegations.
“Hiranandani Group has strongly refuted any link or association with allegations and saw no merit in it,” a leading portal quoted as their statement.
The Hiranandani Group was founded by Darshan’s father Niranjan Hiranandani & uncle Surendra Hiranandani. The group has vast operations in real estate and constructions projects across the country and also have interest in developing residential and commercial properties, including townships, IT parks, and other infrastructure projects.
Darshan Hiranandani LinkedIn profile describes him as MBA and B.S. graduate from Rochester Institute of Technology, New York. The acclaimed businessman has founded Tez Platforms, Yotta Infrastructure Solutions, and Greenbase – Industrial & Logistics Park.
Allegations against Mohua Moitra
The BJP MP made series of allegations against BJP leader Mahua Moitra. The complaint to Speaker said that more than 50 questions were posed by the TMC Parliamentarian for “seeking information with an intent to perpetuate Hiranandani Group business interests.
Moitra was also accused of asking questions related to Adani Group, the business conglomerate whose fortunes have swelled to unprecedented heights in last few years.
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey writes to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla demanding to constitute an inquiry committee against TMC MP Mahua Moitra and her immediate suspension from the House alleging that ‘bribes were exchanged between Mahua Moitra and businessman Darshan Hiranandani to ask… pic.twitter.com/aLnosIhJqZ
— ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2023
Notably, TMC MP has been highly critical of Modi govt over ‘shielding’ of Adani Group and has accused it of helping the latter flourish & prosper at state’s interests. She questioned how the Gujarat-based conglomerate saw such meteoric swing in fortunes, was it the effect of ‘friend’ Modi?