Mahua Moitra, a lawmaker for the Trinamool Congress in New Delhi, announced on Tuesday that she would be attending the Lok Sabha’s ethics committee hearing regarding her case on November 2. She promised to “demolish” the cash-for-query complaint against her and emphasized that no parliamentary panel has the authority to look into claims of criminality.
Extension demanded from court
After being called to depose on October 31, Moitra requested an extension until November 5. However, the panel denied her request and informed her that there would be no further extensions after November 2. “I will attend the meeting of the ethics committee on November 2. I have the right to cross-examine the fake complainant. This complaint is utter rubbish and I will demolish it,” Moitra said in Kolkata before taking a flight to Delhi.
In addition, the Trinamool MP stated that the ethics commission, which investigates charges of misconduct and other moral dilemmas involving members of Parliament, has not yet developed a model code of behavior.
“The committee didn’t have any meeting since 2021. It is yet to frame its model code of conduct. No parliamentary standing committee has criminal jurisdiction. If there is any allegation of criminality, then law enforcement agencies need to investigate it,” she said. Officials said that although the MP’s behavior will be investigated by the ethics panel, the CBI and the Lokpal have also received complaints about it.
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Moitra becomes target for Bhartiya Janata Party
In the meantime, Moitra was the target of taunts from BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, one of the two complainants against Moitra (the other being her erstwhile friend Jai Anant Dehadrai).
“Is there no work left for the Government of India now? This crocodile tear of the MP accused of mortgaging national security for a few rupees really makes me laugh. Delhi Police should immediately take the mobile phone of the Honorable MP and investigate, the MP should immediately file a case for violation of privacy, he should not run away after making allegations like Rahul Gandhi ji. He also talked about mobile tape but did not give the phone?” tweeted Dubey.
Court orders Mahua Moitra in cash-for-query case
On Tuesday, Moitra notified the Delhi High Court that she would no longer be asking the court to order social media and media outlets to take down the slanderous content that has been spread about her in the cash-for-query case.
Her attorney informed the court that Dubey and Dehadrai will still be targets of the litigation. Judge Sachin Datta instructed the MP to change her defamation lawsuit by removing the names of the 15 media outlets and social media middlemen, including YouTube, X, and Google, after reviewing her submission.
