Mahua Moitra Seeks Time from LS Ethics Panel, Says Summon 'Was on Live TV Before Official Email'

TMC MP Mahua Moitra on Friday sought more time from the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee to submit a response to the summons in relation to the cash-for-query allegations levelled against her by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey. The senior Trinamool Congress leader, who was asked to appear before the panel on October 31, said she would instead appear before it after November 5.

On Thursday, Dubey told the committee that it was an “open and shut” case and Moitra should be disqualified.

Taking to ‘X’ (formally Twitter), she said, “Chairman, Ethics Comm announced my 31/10 summons on live TV way before the official letter emailed to me at 19:20 hrs. All complaints & suo moto affidavits also released to the media. I look forward to deposing immediately after my pre-scheduled constituency programmes end on Nov 4.”

Sharing the letter, which she had sent to the chairperson of the committee, on ‘X’, Moitra said, “I represent the state of West Bengal where Durga Puja is the biggest festival. I am already committed to attending numerous pre-scheduled Vijaya Dashami Sammelans/meetings (both government and political) in my constituency from 30th October to 4th November 2023 and cannot be in Delhi on 31st October 2023.”

She further said the summons hit the news “way before” the official letter was emailed to her.

Dubey and advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai gave “oral evidence” to the panel against Moitra on Thursday, after which its chairperson Vinod Kumar Sonkar said the committee will also seek assistance from the ministries of home affairs and IT in probing the allegations.

The Ethics Committee of Lok Sabha, in its first meeting to address the “cash for query” accusation against Moitra, summoned her to be present before the committee on October 31.

The complainant, BJP parliamentarian Nishikant Dubey, along with advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai, had recorded their statements in front of the panel.

“I have told the truth before the Committee. All members of the committee enquired from me cordially. I answered to all that was asked from me,” Dehadrai said after his meeting with the committee.