The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered a preliminary enquiry (PE) against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra in the “Cash for-Query” row, top sources have told CNN-News18.
A preliminary enquiry has been registered and an investigation has begun after a complaint was sent by Lokpal, they said.
Sources also said that since the matter is already with the Parliament Ethics Committee, a full FIR will not be filed against Mahua Moitra till the probe is finished by the committee.
Moita came under scanner after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey accused her of taking “bribes” from a businessman Darshan Hiranandani to ask questions targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government in Parliament.
Following allegations against her, the Lok Sabha Ethics Panel probing the case against her sought TMC MP’s expulsion.
Recent reports claimed that the Trinamool Congress MP’s Parliament login ID was not just accessed from Dubai, but two other places including ones in the United States.
Responding to the development, Mahua Moitra said she was amused to see how Lokpal with no full time Chairman referred the case to CBI.
“Amused to see how headless LokPal with no full time Chairman “referred” my case to CBI.
RTI of 3/11/23 says LokPal has no Chairman since May 2022 & 3 of 8 member posts also vacant! Maybe Jharkhand Branch of Pitbull Association also moonlighting as Lokpal Committee under BJP,” she posted on X (formerly Twitter).
The Ethics Committee of Lok Sabha which was also looking into the allegations against Moitra has submitted its report which will be tabled in Lok Sabha in the upcoming Winter Session.
Earlier, Moitra had admitted to sharing her official login details with Hiranandani, the CEO of the real estate and infrastructure company Hiranandani Group, to have someone from his office type in the questions to be asked in Lok Sabha.
TMC president and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday broke her silence over the issue and said that plans were in the works to expel her (Moitra) from Parliament but any such action would help the lawmaker from Krishnanagar ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
“Now, they are planning to expel Mahua (from Parliament). She will become more popular as a result. Whatever she used to say inside (Parliament), she will now say those things outside. Would anyone do something like this three months before the elections if he is not stupid?” Banerjee said.
With Parliament’s Winter Session scheduled to begin from December 4, members have begun putting in their questions. The House is likely to take a decision on the Ethics Committee’s recommendation for Moitra’s expulsion during the session.
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