Cash-For-Query Scandal: Lok Sabha Accepts Ethics Committee Recommendation, Expels TMC MP Mahua Moitra
The Lok Sabha on Friday expelled Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra from the house after the Ethics Committee recommended her disqualification over the "cash for query" allegation.
"The serious misdemeanours on the part of Mahua Moitra calls for severe punishment. The Committee, therefore, recommend that Mahua Moitra, MP may be expelled from the Membership of the Seventeenth Lok Sabha," the report read.
What the Ethics Committee said?
Calling for a government enquiry it said, "In view of highly objectionable, unethical, heinous and criminal conduct of Mahua Moitra, the Committee recommends for an intense, legal, institutional inquiry by the Government of India in a time-bound manner."
The Committee also recommended an investigation by the government into the 'money trail' of cash transactions between Mahua Moitra and Darshan Hiranandani as a part of 'quid pro quo'.
"The 'money trail' of cash transaction between Smt Mahua Moitra and Shri Darshan Hiranandani as a part of 'quid pro quo' should be investigated by the Government of India in a legal, institutional and time-bound manner," the report said.
Why the recommendation was accepted
The Lok Sabha accepted the Ethics Committee recommendation which was tabled on Tuesday after an intense debate.
Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Friday afternoon moved a motion in Lok Sabha for discussion on the panel report seeking the expulsion of Moitra.
"If some strict decisions have to be taken, they have to be taken to uphold the dignity of the House, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla said.
Earlier, Congress leader in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury had written to Speaker Om Birla urging him to postpone the debate.
Chowdhury said the matter was urgent and important and the members should get sufficient time to prepare themselves as the report is over 100 pages and exhaustive.
"Considering the seriousness and importance of the matter, I would request that members may be given sufficient time of three to four days at least to study the report and prepare themselves for the discussion in the House," he told in the letter.
However, the Speaker has initiated a debate on the report.
What are the allegations against Mahua Moitra
Mahua Moitra, the first-term MP from Krishnanagar landed in trouble after it was alleged that she took money from Darshan Hiranandani in exchange for asking some questions in the parliament.
She even allegedly shared her Parliament login credentials with Hiranandani.
The Ethics Committee, which investigated the allegations made by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, adopted its 500-page report on November 9 recommending Moitra's expulsion from the 17th Lok Sabha in view of her "highly objectionable, unethical, heinous and criminal conduct."
The draft report was adopted by a 6:4 majority in the panel last month. The report on Moitra's cash-for-questions case reveals that she visited the UAE four times from 2019 to 2023 while her login was accessed several times.
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