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The Trinamool Congress (TMC) finds itself in the eye of a political storm after allegations of a 'cash-for-query' scandal involving its party leader Mahua Moitra. Derek O'Brien, a TMC MP, stated on Sunday that the party is keen on having the matter thoroughly investigated by the appropriate parliamentary body.
What O'Brien Says
In the wake of the controversy, Derek O'Brien highlighted that Moitra had already been advised by the party leadership to provide clarity regarding the accusations against her. He mentioned, "The member has been directed by the party to elucidate her stance on the allegations. She has already addressed it. However, given that it involves an elected MP, the matter should be probed by the correct forum of the Parliament. Based on the findings, the party leadership will then decide the next course of action."
The Genesis of the Controversy
The entire episode began to unfold on October 15 when BJP MP Nishikant Dubey leveled serious charges against TMC leader Mahua Moitra. Dubey alleged that Moitra had been accepting bribes, in the form of cash and gifts, from a certain businessman in exchange for posing questions in the Parliament.
Raising the issue, Dubey appealed to Speaker Om Birla to form an investigative committee to delve deeper into the claims against Moitra. Acting on Dubey's complaint, Birla subsequently passed it on to the Parliament's Ethics Committee for review.
Dubey bolstered his claims by presenting a letter from a lawyer named Dehadrai. In this letter, Dehadrai purportedly furnished concrete evidence of Moitra receiving bribes. Dubey further pointed out that out of 61 questions Moitra posed in the Lok Sabha, 50 were centered on the Adani Group - a conglomerate she frequently criticizes, especially following a critical analysis by Hindenburg Research.
Moitra Fights Back
In a fiery response to the allegations, Moitra singled out a "Fake Degree MP" and an embittered former acquaintance for concocting the controversy. She sought legal redress by filing a plea in the Delhi High Court on October 17, vehemently denying the accusations. Moitra stated that these claims were fabricated with the sole intent of maligning her reputation.
On October 20, Moitra's plea came up for hearing in the Delhi High Court. Through her petition, she urged the court to instruct Dubey, Dehadrai, and various media platforms to refrain from disseminating or publishing any content against her that might be false and damaging.
All eyes are now on the upcoming hearing scheduled for October 31, as the nation keenly awaits further developments in this high-profile case.
