Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, on Friday, questioned the conduct of Lok Sabha Ethics Committee chairman Vinod Sonkar and sought to know how the “affidavit” in the ‘cash for query’ case was "leaked" to the media.
Sonkar had said the ethics committee received "sworn affidavit" from Hiranandani Group CEO Darshan Hiranandani against the TMC MP in the cash-for-query case.
In the affidavit, Hiranandani had claimed that the TMC leader targeted Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani to "malign and embarrass" Prime Minister Narendra Modi and that he agreed to offer her bribes to access her Parliament login credentials and pose questions in the Lok Sabha.
Hiranandani further claimed Moitra "made frequent demands" including "expensive luxury items, providing support on renovation of her officially allotted bungalow in Delhi, travel expenses, holidays, etc., apart from providing secretarial and logistical help for her travels within India and to different parts of the world".
Sonkar told a media house that the ethics committee had received Hiranandani's affidavit. "The committee will hear Mr Dubey's complaint on October 26. He has been asked to present evidence in front of the committee."
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey had accused Moitra of taking bribes from a businessman to ask questions in Parliament and urged Speaker Om Birla to constitute an inquiry committee to look into the charges against her. Birla referred Dubey's complaint to Parliament's Ethics Committee.
"The allegations are very serious. The case has gone beyond the prima facie evidence which is why we are examining it," NDTV had quoted Sonkar as saying.
Reacting to Sonkar's comments, Moitra in a social media post, said, “Chairman Ethics Committee openly speaks to media. Please see Lok Sabha rules below. How does “affidavit” find its way to media? Chairman should first do enquiry into how this was leaked.”
She reiterated her claim that the charges against her are part of the BJP's agenda to expel her from Parliament and silence her on Adani.
The TMC MP cited the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in Lok Sabha which read: "The evidence given before the committee shall not be published by any member of the committee or by any other person until it has been laid on the table."