Lokpal Directs CBI to Probe Cash-for-Query Allegations Against TMC's Mahua Moitra

In a significant development from New Delhi on March 19, the anti-corruption watchdog Lokpal has mandated the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to delve into allegations against Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mahua Moitra.

These allegations suggest that Moitra engaged in a cash-for-query scheme, purportedly exchanging parliamentary questions for financial benefits and gifts from a Dubai-based businessman. The CBI has been given a six-month deadline to present its findings to Lokpal.

Moitra, who faced expulsion from the Lok Sabha in December of the previous year due to unethical conduct, has contested her expulsion at the Supreme Court. Despite the controversy, she has been re-nominated by her party for the Krishnanagar Lok Sabha seat in West Bengal. The directive for investigation stems from a complaint by BJP Lok Sabha member Nishikant Dubey, who accused Moitra of leveraging her parliamentary privileges for personal gain, targeting industrialist Gautam Adani and Prime Minister Narendra Modi among others.

The Lokpal bench, comprising Justice Abhilasha Kumari and members Archana Ramasundaram and Mahender Singh, underscored the gravity of the allegations against Moitra. They highlighted the necessity of a thorough investigation to uncover the truth, given Moitra's influential position at the time of the alleged misconduct. The order emphasized that public servants, especially elected representatives, must uphold integrity and transparency in their duties.

According to Dubey's complaint, Moitra allegedly shared her Lok Sabha login details with Darshan Hiranandani, enabling him to post questions in Parliament on her behalf while she was abroad. It was claimed that Moitra received around Rs 2 crore in cash from Hiranandani in exchange for raising about 50 questions that directly benefited his business interests. Additionally, allegations surfaced regarding Moitra receiving Rs 75 lakh from Hiranandani before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

The CBI's preliminary inquiry into these allegations has partially substantiated some claims while seeking further time to explore others. The agency's report, which spans approximately 1,500 pages, confirms the allegation regarding Moitra sharing her login credentials but mentions a lack of additional evidence supporting the claim of a Rs 2 crore bribe. Other allegations related to logistic support and renovation expenses have been substantiated according to the CBI's findings.

This case has sparked considerable attention, with Dubey sharing excerpts from the Lokpal order on social media platforms and asserting that Moitra compromised national security for financial gains. As this investigation unfolds, it promises to shed light on the intricate relationship between political responsibilities and personal conduct within India's legislative framework.