Cash-for-query row: CBI summons Jai Anant Dehadrai in probe against Moitra

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has issued a notice to Supreme Court lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai, the complainant in the probe against Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mahua Moitra, asking him to appear before it on January 25 for questioning.

A notice sent on Monday by investigation officer Parvinder Singh under section 22 of Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act 2013 said, “Whereas it appears that you are acquainted with the facts and circumstances of the subject cites [sic] matter, which is being inquired into. In this regard, you are hereby requested to attend me on January 25 at 2 pm at CBI headquarters.”

Earlier this month, the CBI approached the Lok Sabha secretariat, asking for the Ethics Committee report that had recommended the expulsion of Moitra from Parliament on cash-for-query charges. The CBI received a letter from the Lokpal last year.

Moitra is accused of sharing her Parliament login and password with businessman Darshan Hiranandani so that he could “post the questions” directly “on her behalf when required”.

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BJP MP Nishikant Dubey had levelled the allegations against Moitra. He said that the Lokpal had forwarded his complaint to the CBI for investigation, reported The Indian Express.

On November 9, the Ethics Committee of the Lok Sabha, which inquired into the allegations, adopted a draft report recommending her expulsion for “unethical conduct” and “serious misdemeanours”.

The committee had examined Dubey and Dehadrai regarding the complaint against Moitra.

Hiranandani, in a sworn affidavit to the panel, claimed that Moitra had provided him her Parliament login and password so that he could “post the questions” directly “on her behalf when required”.

The committee report said the Ministry of Electronic and Information Technology, in its report, had stated that the member portal of Moitra had been “operated 47 times” from the UAE between July 2019 and April 2023.

The report, which was adopted by a margin of 6-4, also mentioned that Moitra accepted “money — cash and kind, amenities and various other facilities” from businessman Hiranandani.

Moitra however, dismissed all the allegations. She was expelled from the Lok Sabha in December 2023.

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