Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury writes to LS Speaker over the proceedings of the Ethics Committee in Mahua Moita’s ‘cash for query’ case

Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury wrote a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Saturday over the proceedings of the Ethics Committee against Mahua Moitra in connection to the ‘cash for query’ allegations leveled against her by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey and the subsequent recommendation to expel the TMC MP in lieu of it. In his letter, Adhir Chowdhury has urged for a comprehensive review of the “rules and processes" that relate to the functioning of the Parliamentary Committees that are “primarily concerned with the rights of members” of the House.

“Expulsion from Parliament, you will agree Sir, is an extremely serious punishment and has very wide ramifications,” said the Congress MP, speaking on the proposed expulsion of the TMC MP. In his 4-page letter addressed to the Speaker, questions the unusual recommendation of expulsion, citing its seriousness and widespread consequences. He also raises concerns about the scrutiny and transparency of the Ethics Committee's proceedings, pointing out potential ambiguities in the roles of the Privileges and Ethics Committees and the lack of clear guidelines for penal powers.


The letter further comments on the procedural differences between the Mahua Moitra case and past instances, particularly the previous "cash-for-query" scandal where a sting operation led to the expulsion of members. Chowdhury questioned whether the established procedure was followed and if a conclusive money trail was found by the Ethics Committee in Moitra's case before her expulsion was recommended.


The Ethics Committee had initiated the investigation based on the allegations leveled by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, who had accused Moitra of asking questions in Lok Sabha to target the Adani Group at the behest of businessman Darshan Hiranandani in exchange for gifts. He claimed that Advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai had provided him with proof of alleged bribes. The BJP MP and Dehadrai had appeared before the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee, but not Hiranandani. Drawing inferences to the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee’s decision not to summon the Dubai-based businessman to come and depose before the parliamentary body, Adhir Chowdhury said, “The Dubai based Businessman who purportedly had access to the “log-in credentials” of the Member, Ms. Mahua Moitra to the Lok Sabha Portal and was placing Questions on her behalf was, as per reports, possibly not called by the Committee for deposing. It is also not clearly known as to why the Businessman chose to turn against the Member despite his interests apparently being served by way of posing questions by using the Log in credentials."


"The proceedings of the Sittings of the Committee are strictly confidential with the rule being all the more relevant for strict adherence in case of a Committee investigating a very serious as well as extremely sensitive matter. Yet, the Chairman of the Ethics Committee as well as the Complainant Member were openly parading their views and passing judgments even while the matter was under investigation and formulation of the findings and framing the report was underway," Adhir Ranjan Chowdury further stated in his letter.


The Ethics Committee, led by Vinod Kumar Sonkar, endorsed their report in a meeting on November 9, with six members in favor of expelling Moitra and four opposing members submitting dissenting notes. The report is set to be presented in the lower house of Parliament at the beginning of the Winter Session on Monday.


Taking to social media platform ‘X’, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey stated that “the Lok Sabha will take a big decision on corruption in the parliamentary history.” “On December 4, 2023, the Lok Sabha will take a big decision on corruption in the parliamentary history, which will protect the democratic dignity and give a strong feeling of the democratic system among the common citizens of the country.”posted Dubey.