The Ethics Committee of Parliament will write to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) to authenticate businessman Darshan Hiranandani’s ‘sworn affidavit’ by way of an apostille that will make it a legal document, so that it can be read as his statement in the ongoing cash-for-query row against Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra.
Hiranandani is, however, unlikely to be called by the Ethics Panel. Following Moitra’s deposition, the panel could proceed to recommend its action in the matter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
Hiranandani is the CEO of the real-estate conglomerate Hirandani Group, who in the affidavit has claimed that Moitra gave him her Parliament login details to raise questions about the Adani Group, in an attempt to target Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Earlier, India Today reported that the Ethics Committee issued a summons to Moitra to appear before it on October 31 in association with the cash-for-query charge against her. Though the TMC MP is awaiting an official summons copy, she will, in all likelihood, appear before the panel on the stipulated day, sources privy to the matter told India Today.
This was the first meeting by the Ethics Panel in the ongoing cash-for-query row. During his appearance before the committee, Dubey claimed the TMC MP’s “direct involvement” in the scam and recommended her disqualification as an Lok Sabha MP.
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, who alleged Moitra of taking bribes to ask questions in Parliament, appeared before the Ethics Committee on Thursday to submit oral evidence in relation with the complaint. Dubey based his complaint on a letter written by Supreme Court lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai, who is believed to be the estranged partner of Moitra.
Moitra, however, has rebutted all allegations against her.
