Mahua Moitra Suffers Setback In Defamation Case As Lawyer Withdraws, Matter Adjourned

Senior counsel Gopal Shankaranarayanan, representing TMC MP Mahua Moitra, voluntarily withdrew from the 'cash for query' defamation case on October 20. As a result, Shankaranarayanan will no longer appear on behalf of MP Mahua Moitra in this case. The Delhi High Court has postponed the hearing until October 31, when the court reopens.

The defamation suit was filed against BJP MP Nishikant Dubey and lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai, who accused the Lok Sabha MP of accepting cash and gifts to ask questions about the Adani group in the House.

During the hearing, Justice Sachin Datta expressed his dismay at this withdrawal and inquired if the senior counsel wished to continue with the case.

Moitra filed the defamation suit after Dubey and Dehadrai alleged that she received cash and gifts from businessman Darshan Hiranandani in exchange for asking questions in Parliament about the Adani group to tarnish the reputation of Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi and Home Minister (HM) Amit Shah.

A day prior to the hearing, these allegations were reiterated in a purported statement released by Hiranandani, which Moitra claimed was made under pressure from the prime minister's office.

Last week, Dubey wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, requesting the formation of an inquiry committee to investigate accusations against Moitra. He also demanded her immediate suspension from the House, alleging that "bribes were exchanged between businessman Darshan Hiranandani and her to ask questions in Parliament in exchange for cash and gifts."

In his letter, Dubey referred to a complaint by Supreme Court advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai, which he had received. Moitra allegedly posed questions in Parliament in exchange for gifts and cash while targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah in an attempt to link them to the Adani group.

Moitra vehemently denied these allegations and sent legal notices to Dubey and Dehadrai. She referred to Dehadrai as a "jilted ex" seeking revenge.

On October 16, the Adani group released a statement stating, "In this particular case, the lawyer's complaint reveals that this arrangement to besmirch the reputation and interests of the Adani Group and our Chairman Gautam Adani has been in place since 2018."

The Hiranandani group has refuted the allegations, claiming they have "no merit."

However, on October 19, a widely shared statement by the media indicated that Hiranandani admitted to using Moitra's parliamentary login credentials to ask questions targeting Adani. He alleged that Moitra frequently demanded "expensive luxury items, provided support for the renovation of her officially-allotted bungalow in Delhi, travel expenses, holidays, and more, in addition to providing secretarial and logistical assistance for her travels within India and to various parts of the world."

Hiranandani serves as the CEO of the real estate and infrastructure company Hiranandani Group, which is privately held by the Hiranandani family. Darshan also holds the position of CEO of the Hiranandani family office, Nidar Group.