Cash-for-question row: Advocate Dehadrai, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey appear before Ethics Committee of Lok Sabha

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BJP leader Nishikant Dubey and advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai on Thursday appeared before the Ethics Committee of the Lok Sabha to record their statements in connection with the cash-for-query allegations against Trinamool Congress (TMC) member Mahua Moitra.

Dehadrai recorded his statements first and later Dubey appeared before the panel in the afternoon.

Advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai appears before the Ethics Committee of Parliament in ‘cash for query’ charge against TMC MP Mahua Moitra”I have told the truth before the Committee. All members of the committee enquired from me cordially. I answered to all that was asked from me.” pic.twitter.com/8lOzWo29kH

— ANI (@ANI) October 26, 2023

Dubey told reporters that he would reply to whatever questions the committee would ask him. “Documents don’t lie,” Dubey said when pointed out that Moitra had refuted all the allegations levelled against her.

In his complaint to Speaker Om Birla, BJP member Nishikant Dubey has cited documents shared by Dehadrai to back his cash-for-query allegations against the TMC MP. Birla had referred the matter to the committee headed by BJP member Vinod Kumar Sonkar.

Sonkar, who is the Chairman of Parliament Ethics Committee, told reporters on Thursday, “The two people who were summoned today – the lawyer and Nishikant Dubey – were heard attentively. After that, it was decided that Mahua Moitra would be called on 31st October. She will come and present her part. The committee has also decided that IT Ministry and MHA will be sent letters to make her details available.”

In the letter to Birla dated October 15, Dubey said the advocate, close to Moitra before they fell out, has shared “irrefutable evidence of bribes exchanged” between her and businessman Darshan Hiranandani, CEO of Hiranandani Group, to target the Adani Group and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The fiery TMC member dismissed the charges as a “jilted ex’s lies”, a reference to Dehadrai, and accused the Adani Group of being behind them to target her as she has been relentless in raising questions on the conglomerate’s practices and transactions.

In his letter to the speaker, Dubey said 50 of 61 questions she asked in Lok Sabha till recently were focused on the Adani Group.

In a signed affidavit, Hiranandani who allegedly paid her to raise questions in Parliament, said the TMC leader targeted Gautam Adani to “malign and embarrass” Modi whose impeccable reputation gave the opposition no opportunity to attack him.

(With inputs from PTI)