Mahua Moitra Summoned By Probe Agency In Foreign Exchange Violation Case
In fresh trouble for Trinamool Congress leader and expelled Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra, the Enforcement Directorate has summoned her for questioning in an alleged foreign exchange violation case.
The summons have been issued in connection with violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act and Ms Moitra has been asked to appear at the agency’s office in New Delhi on Monday.
The Trinamool leader was expelled from the Lok Sabha in December last year based on an Ethics Committee report on the alleged ‘cash-for-query’ charges against her. She had challenged the expulsion in the Supreme Court, where her petition is currently pending.
Ms Moitra was accused of taking bribes, including ₹ 2 crore in cash and “luxury gifts”, from businessman Darshan Hiranandani for asking questions in Parliament that were critical of the Narendra Modi government.
She was also accused of sharing her email ID as a Member of Parliament as well as her login details to the parliamentary website to enable Mr Hiranandani to post the questions directly. The Trinamool leader had vehemently denied the bribery charges but admitted that she had shared her credentials which, she had claimed, was a common practice.
Ms Moitra is being investigated by the CBI as well, which is conducting a preliminary enquiry into the allegations against her on the directions of the Lokpal. Under a preliminary enquiry, the agency cannot arrest an accused or conduct searches, but it can seek information, examine documents and also question the Trinamool leader.
Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had claimed that Ms Moitra’s expulsion was a blatant act of “vendetta politics” by the BJP, a party that has been the focal point of the fiery leader’s attacks.
“This is vendetta politics of BJP. They killed democracy… It is injustice. Mahua will win the battle. The people will give a befitting reply to the BJP. They will be defeated in the next election,” Ms Banerjee had said.