Ethics panel draft report calls for Mahua Moitra’s ‘immediate expulsion’: Sources

The Lok Sabha Ethics Committee will meet on Thursday to finalise the draft report.

In the cash-for-query allegations against Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra. Sources say the draft report calls for “severe punishment” against Moitra, “which could not be less than her immediate expulsion” from the Lok Sabha.

According to sources, the draft report by the Ethics Committee states that Moitra’s actions were unethical, a breach of parliamentary privilege, and a contempt of the House. It also highlights a contradiction between Moitra’s and businessman Darshan Hiranandani’s statements about the gifts and favours.

Sources close to Moitra told India Today TV that she had been expecting a serious indictment on the lines of expulsion in the ethics panel’s draft report.

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey has accused Moitra of accepting bribes and favours from Hiranandani in exchange for posing questions in the Lok Sabha. She has also been accused of receiving cash, luxury items, renovations to her bungalow, travel expenses, and holidays from Hiranandani.

Sources said the Ethics Committee’s draft report notes that Hiranandani gave Moitra gifts, including a Hermes scarf, Bobbi Brown makeup and a car to use. Moitra has admitted to accepting gifts and using Hiranandani’s car.

According to the IT Ministry’s report to the Ethics Committee, the IP address used to operate Moitra’s login credentials was the same each time. This raises concerns as the TMC MP had visited Dubai four times between January 1, 2019, and September 30, 2023, but her Lok Sabha login credentials were used from there 47 times.

The Ministry of Home Affairs, in its report to the Ethics Committee, informed that several documents are not available in the public domain. These include draft bills which are circulated in advance for the members’ consideration. This leads to the possibility of leakage of such sensitive material, which could be exploited by inimical elements to the detriment of national security.

Sources said the committee is also expected to take action against Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MP Danish Ali for “casting aspersions on the Committee chair” during the last meeting on November 2.

Stormy scenes were witnessed at the November 2 meeting as Moitra, who had appeared before the panel to depose, walked out in a rage with the opposition members of the panel in tow. She had accused panel chairman and BJP MP Vinod Kumar Sonkar of asking her filthy and personal questions and claimed that what transpired at the meeting was a “proverbial vastraharan” (disrobing).

As the Ethics Committee meets later today to adopt the draft report, Opposition MPs who are part of the panel are expected to file dissent notes. This includes Congress MP Uttam Reddy, who won’t be available to attend the meeting because he has been named a candidate for the Telangana assembly polls and will be filing his nomination on Friday.