Amid the ongoing controversy over 'bribe-for-query' allegations against Mahua Moitra, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has referred BJP MP Nishikant Dubey's complaint against the TMC MP to the ethics committee.
On Monday, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey wrote to Birla accusing Moitra of taking bribes for raising questions in parliament to "protect the interest of a business group”. He added that advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai had "shared irrefutable evidence of bribes exchanged" between Moitra and Darshan Hiranandani”. The Hiranandani Group has denied the allegations.
In his letter to the speaker, Dubey said 50 of 61 questions she asked in Lok Sabha till recently were focused on the Adani Group, after the Hindenburg report raised allegations of short-selling against the business conglomerate. The Hiranandani Group had lost energy and infra contracts to the Adani Group and Moitra's questions were directed at perpetuating the business interests of the former, Dubey indicated in his letter, NDTV reported.
Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Monday called the allegations “shocking”. Dubey had also written to Chandrasekhar and Union IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw demanding an inquiry committee. Chandrasekhar said that the alleged sharing of Moitra's Lok Sabha credentials with an external entity “poses a direct threat to national security.”
Moitra hit back at Dubey, saying she "welcomes any move against her after the Lok Sabha Speaker is finished dealing with pending charges against him (Dubey)".
