Trinamool terms ethics panel's summons to Mahua Moitra 'politically motivated

Trinamool terms ethics panel's summons to Mahua Moitra 'politically motivated'

Trinamool Congress MP Kunal Ghosh questioned the Lok Sabha ethics panel's refusal to extend the date for Mahua Moitra's appearance before it. She has been asked to appear before the panel on November 2 in the cash-for-query case.

Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh on Saturday termed the Lok Sabha ethics panel's summons to MP Mahua Moitra as "politically motivated". Moitra has been asked to appear before the panel on November 2 in connection with the cash-for-query row.

Questioning the ethics panel's refusal to further extend the date for Moitra's appearance, Ghosh said, "Why is the ethics committee in such a hurry to keep the date at November 2? This is a politically motivated move."

Ghosh also asked why BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari's case is still pending with the ethics panel.

"While they (ethics panel) are sleeping on the matter related to Suvendu Adhikari which has been pending for six years after the CBI filed a case against him, they are trying to create pressure on Mahua Moitra," the Trinamool leader said.

Moitra was earlier asked to appear on October 31, following which, she had sought more time to appear before it. She said she would be available only after November 5.

In response, the Lok Sabha ethics panel extended the date to November 2. The committee, however, said it would not entertain any request for further extension.

On Thursday, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey and Supreme Court lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai gave "oral evidence" to the panel against the Trinamool Congress MP.

Moitra said she should be given "a fair hearing and an adequate opportunity" to defend herself against the "false, malicious and defamatory accusations" levelled against her by Dubey and Dehadrai.

She also said she should be allowed to "cross-examine" businessman Darshan Hiranandani.

The cash-for-query row erupted after Nishikant Dubey made the allegations against Mahua Moitra citing Dehadrai's letter. Dubey claimed that Dehadrai had "irrefutable" evidence that bribes were exchanged between Moitra and businessman Darshan Hiranandani

It was alleged that 50 out of 61 questions that the Trinamool MP asked in Parliament were with the intent of "protecting or perpetuating the business interests" of Darshan Hiranandani and his conglomerate.