Uncertainty over Mahua’s appearance before Ethics Panel on Nov 2

The cash for query scandal continues to evolve, resembling the intricate plot of a dramatic film. Among the various facets of this story, there are elements of suspense, potential threats to national security, business rivalries, and allegations of political corruption.
However, the climax of this saga is yet to be unveiled. The Chairman of the Ethics Committee in the Lok Sabha has officially scheduled Mahua Moitra’s appearance for November 2, while Mahua has requested a later date, preferably after November 5. Let’s recount the unfolding events step by step.
Recent developments show Mahua Moitra making efforts to influence government witness Darshan Hiranandani, a key figure in the Cash for Query case, to testify in her favor. These allegations stem from the complainant MP, Nishikant Dubey, who also took to Twitter to share his concerns on a Saturday morning. Two days prior, another co-complainant, Supreme Court lawyer Jai Ananth Dehadrani, posted similar allegations on social media.
In the ongoing Cash for Query case, the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee has recorded oral statements of both complainant MP Nishikant Dubey and Advocate Jai Anant Dehadrani. The Ethics Committee initially summoned TMC MP Mahua Moitra to provide an explanation on October 31. In response, Moitra sent a letter explaining her inability to participate due to prior commitments on October 31 and requested a date after November 5.
In the meantime, Nishikant Dubey tweeted that Mahua Moitra is trying to influence Darshan Hiranandani. Just after this a new notice issued by Ethics Committee. This notice granted an additional three days upon Mahua Moitra’s request. Consequently, Moitra is now expected to appear before the Ethics Committee on November 2 to present her arguments. The Ethics Committee issued a stern warning that further requests to extend the investigation date would not be entertained.
As previously reported, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey accused TMC MP Mahua Moitra of accepting bribes from Darshan Hiranandani, a real estate businessman, to raise questions against businessman Gautam Adani and defame Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Parliament. Furthermore, it was alleged that Moitra compromised the security and sanctity of Parliament, as well as the security of the nation, by sharing her parliamentary login ID.
Since the Cash for Query story is going on, it is important to get some information about its characters (complainant and accused) of the case.
1- Mahua Moitra – The prime accused, a TMC MP and daughter of Bengali Brahmin father Dwipendra Lal Moitra. After schooling in Kolkata, she graduated in Economics and Mathematics from a college in Massachusetts, USA and then started a job in JP Morgan, the world’s largest investment bank. Mahua Moitra resigned from the post of Vice President of JP Morgan in 2009 and entered in to Indian politics by taking membership of the Congress Party. She was one of Rahul Gandhi’s confidants. Mahua did not last long with Congress and after about a year, she joined Mamata Banerjee’s party TMC. In 2019, she contested from Krishnanagar parliamentary constituency and reached the Lok Sabha after winning the election. Earlier in 2002, Mahua Moitra got married with Danish financier Lars Brorsen but their married life did not last long. At present mahua is divorced.
2- Darshan Hiranandani – According to Mahua’s statement, a close friend who possessed confidential access to her parliamentary email. Hiranandani confessed to using her email while in Dubai, bribing Mahua Moitra, and raising questions in Parliament against Gautam Adani due to business rivalry.
3- Jai Anant Dehadrani – A Supreme Court lawyer who reportedly had a relationship with Mahua Moitra, despite an age difference of about 15 years. Dehadrani filed a complaint with the CBI against his Close Friend, MP Mahua Moitra, in October 2023, which led BJP MP Nishikant Dubey to call for action against Moitra.
4- Nishikant Dubey – A prominent BJP MP who has held his parliamentary seat for three consecutive terms since 2009, representing the Godda constituency in Jharkhand.
5- Vinod Kumar Sonkar – The current Chairman of the Ethics Committee in the Lok Sabha, representing the BJP. He has firmly declared that TMC MP Mahua Moitra must appear before the Ethics Committee on November 2, with no further extension requests to be considered.