A thorough review of parliamentary committee procedures “primarily concerned with the rights of members” of the House is being urged by Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury in a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, in light of the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee’s recommendation that Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra be expelled about a “cash-for-query” case.
At a meeting on November 9, the Ethics Committee, presided over by Vinod Kumar Sonkar, approved the report. Four opposition members submitted dissent notes, while six members supported Moitra’s expulsion. On Monday, the first day of the Winter Session, the report is expected to be presented to the lower house of Parliament.
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The letter from Chowdhury highlights concerns about the openness and scrutiny of the Ethics Committee’s work, drawing attention to possible overlaps between the functions of the Ethics and Privileges Committees as well as the lack of precise guidelines about the use of criminal authority. The MP raises concerns about the unusual suggestion of expulsion, pointing out its seriousness and extensive consequences.
He remarked, “You will agree, Sir, that expulsion from Parliament is a very serious punishment with very wide ramifications.”
The letter explores procedural distinctions between the Mahua Moitra case and previous cases, specifically the “cash-for-query” scandal from 2005, in which members were expelled as a result of a sting operation. Chowdhury questioned whether Moitra’s case had a clear money trail and if the established process had been followed.
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Based on claims made by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, the Ethics Committee opened an investigation into Moitra’s alleged use of questions in the Lok Sabha to target the Adani Group at the request of businessman Darshan Hiranandani in exchange for gifts. He asserted that he had received evidence of purported bribes from Advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai. Hiranandani had not appeared before the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee, only the BJP MP and Dehadrai.
“The reason behind the Businessman’s decision to oppose the Member remains unclear, even though using the Log in credentials to pose questions seemed to serve his interests,” Chowdhury stated in the letter.
“The Committee’s meetings are conducted in a strictly confidential manner. This rule is especially important to follow when the Committee is looking into a very sensitive and serious matter. However, he added, “Even as the matter was being looked into, the conclusions were being formed, and the report was being framed, the Chairman of the Ethics Committee and the Complainant Member were publicly displaying their opinions and making judgments.”
