Who Is Darshan Hiranandani And What Is His Role In Mahua Moitra's Cash-For-Query Case

The Lok Sabha on Friday expelled Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra from the house after it adopted the report of the Ethics Committee that found her guilty in the controversial cash-for-query scandal.

It was alleged that Moitra had asked questions in Lok Sabha in exchange for cash and gifts from businessman Darshan Hiranandani to attack industrialist Gautam Adani and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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Who is Darshan Hiranandani

Darshan Hiranandani is a billionaire businessman and CEO of the Mumbai-based Hiranandani Group, which has real estate operations across several cities in India and abroad.

The Hiranandani Group was established in 1978 by Darshan's father Niranjan Hiranandani and uncle Surendra Hiranandani.

It is not a listed company and is privately held by the Hiranandani family. Darshan is also CEO of the Hiranandani family office, Nidar Group.

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The 42-year-old has an MBA and B.S. from Rochester Institute of Technology, New York, and is credited with diversifying Hiranandani Group's operations beyond real estate to energy, hospitality, data centers, and more.

It is alleged that Moitra asked a total of 39 questions, some of which appeared to either support the Hiranandani group or target Adani.

What Darshan Hiranandani said

While he was not summoned by the Ethics Committee, Darshan had presented his side of the story in an affidavit.

According to Darshan, he first met Moitra at the Bengal Global Business Summit in 2017 when she was an MLA.

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In the affidavit to the Ethics Committee on October 19, Hiranandani claimed that Moitra provided him with her login ID and password for the Lok Sabha members' website.

According to his affidavit, Moitra ¡°made frequent demands¡± including ¡°expensive luxury items, providing support on the renovation of her officially allotted bungalow in Delhi, travel expenses, holidays, etc, apart from providing secretarial and logistical help for her travels within India and to different parts of the world¡±.

How BJP defended Moitra's expulsion

Amid allegations of vendetta, the BJP has said that Moitra herself has admitted to receiving gifts from Darshan.

"This isn't an issue related to women. She herself admitted of receiving gifts (from Darshan Hiranandani). What other proof is required now?" Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Pralhad Joshi, asked.

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"She admitted that she got scarfs of so-and-so brand, lipstick of so-and-so brand. She did not refuse it."

Joshi said Moitra travelled to various places abroad 36 times, "for example, Tokyo", and businessman Darshan Hiranandani has said that he had sponsored her travel.

"Darshan Hiranandani made his statement in an affidavit before the consulate...What bigger evidence is needed than this?" the minister asked.

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