“Mahua Moitra’s case is a much more serious matter than 2005 cash-for-questioning scam”, says BJP’s Nishikant Dubey sharpening his attack on the TMC MP

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey launched a fresh attack on TMC MP Mahua Moitra on Wednesday. The Godda MP asserted that the alleged ‘cash-for-query’ allegations against Moitra are far more severe than the 2005 cash-for-question scam case, which resulted in the suspension of 11 MPs. "MPs have been suspended in the Parliament for asking questions for ₹10,000. This (Moitra's case) is a much more serious matter than that," said BJP’s Nishikant Dubey.

In a meeting with reporters, Dubey refused to issue a statement about the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee’s probe into the alleged ‘scam’. "Parliament has its laws. I have submitted my complaint to the Committee of Ethics. My deposition has happened in the Committee of Ethics... Mahua Moitra will appear before the committee tomorrow. So it will be better for me to speak after November 2,” said Dubey.

Nishikant Dubey alleged that TMC’s Mahua Moitra takes bribes from businessman Darshan Hiranandani for posing questions in the House. In a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Dubey further claimed that the TMC MP had shared her official login credentials with the Dubai-based businessman, and accepted bribes from him in exchange for singling out Prime Minister Narendra Modi by asking questions about the Adani Group in Parliament.

In the meantime, taking to social media platform ‘X’, Mahua Moitra has released a two-page letter to the Ethics Committee, seeking permission to "cross-examine" the complainant, advocate Jai Dehadrai, and the alleged "bribe giver," Darshan Hiranandani. "Since the Ethics Committee deemed it fit to release my summons to the media I think it is important I too release my letter to the Committee before my "hearing" tomorrow," said the TMC MP. In addition, she confirmed her appearance before the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee on Thursday.

Mahua Moitra further alleged that Dehadrai had failed to give any proof to support his claims. She has requested that the Committee respond in writing and record their decision to approve or deny such cross-examination.

In 2005, 11 Members of Parliament, namely Chhatarpal Singh Lodha (BJP), Anna Saheb M K Patil (BJP), Manoj Kumar (RJD), Chandra Pratap Singh (BJP), Ram Sewak Singh (Congress), Narender Kumar Kushwaha (BSP), Pradeep Gandhi (BJP), Suresh Chandel (BJP), Lal Chandra Kol (BSP), YG Mahajan (BJP), and Raja Rampal (BSP), were accused for accepting bribes in exchange for raising questions in Parliament. Two journalists had carried out a sting against these MPs, which was broadcast on a news channel and became known as the "cash-for-question scam." The expulsion was challenged by the suspended MPs, but it was upheld by the Supreme Court in a 2007 ruling.