Mahua Moitra to skip Ethics Committee summon; “summons live on TV way before official letter emailed to me,” says the MP

Mahua Moitra announced on Friday that she will not be appearing before the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee on October 31. The committee is presently investigating bribery charges of receiving "cash for query" 
filed against the TMC MP by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey and Supreme Court lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai. Mahua Moitra has alleged that the news of her summon was released to the media even before she got the official letter by mail. 

As per the accusations, Mahua Moitra allegedly accepted payment to pose questions in parliament on behalf of the businessman Darshan Hiranandani, with the intention of criticizing the government and the Adani Group.

Taking to social media platform ‘X’, Mahua Moitra explained her inability to appear in person on October 31. “Chairman, Ethics Comm announced my 31/10 summons on live TV way before official letter emailed to me at 19:20 hrs. All complaints & suo moto affidavits also released to media. I look forward to deposing immediately after my pre- scheduled constituency programmes end on Nov 4.” posted the TMC MP.

The complainants had their statements recorded by the Ethics Committee yesterday. In retaliation to the charges leveled against her, the TMC MP has filed a defamation suit against BJP MP Nishikant Dubey and lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai, who in turn have claimed to have "irrefutable evidence" to back the accusations.

Businessman Darshan Hiranandani claimed in an affidavit that Mahua Moitra gave him her Lok Sabha e-mail ID so he could send her information about the Adani Group and she could raise questions in parliament. "Mahua Moitra wanted to quickly make a name for herself at the national level. She was advised by her friends and advisors that the shortest possible route to fame is by personally attacking PM Narendra Modi," Mr Hiranandani alleged in the affidavit. In addition, the businessman claimed that the TMC MP shared her parliamentary login credentials so that he could directly pose questions to the Lok Sabha.