Cash-for-query case: Mahua Moitra says will appear before Ethics Committee on Nov 2, questions 'double standards'

Moitra also reiterated her demand for cross-examining businessman-friend Darshan Hiranandani, the "bribe-giver" who has given a "suo motu affidavit" against her, and her former partner and lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai, who has initiated the complaint.

New Delhi: Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra on Tuesday said she will appear before the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee on November 2 in the cash for query probe even as she questioned whether the Parliamentary panel was the "appropriate forum" to examine the allegations involving alleged criminality.

She also reiterated her demand for cross-examining businessman-friend Darshan Hiranandani, the "bribe-giver" who has given a "suo motu affidavit" against her, and her former partner and lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai, who has initiated the complaint.

The Krishnanagar MP also found it "extremely surprising" that the panel has not acceded to her request to call her after November 5 and "categorically denying" her any extension, forcing her to appear before it on a date that is "clearly clashing" with her prior commitments in her constituency. Earlier, the panel had asked her to appear before it on October 31.

"While registering my protest, I wish to inform you that I will respect the summons and appear before the committee on November 2," she said in a letter to Ethics Committee chairperson Vinod Kumar Sonkar.

She referred to a "very different approach" adopted towards BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri, who is facing a "serious complaint of hate speech", by the Privileges Committee, which had accepted his request for extension citing election campaigning in Rajasthan. 

"No further date of his hearing has been given so far. I wish to place on record that these double standards reek of political motives and do little to enhance the credibility of the Privileges and Ethics Branch," she said.

Mahua claimed that Dehadrai has not given documentary evidence to back his allegations against her in his written complaint or oral deposition. She also claimed that Darshan has provided only "scant details and no documentary evidence". 

She said any inquiry without allowing her the opportunity to cross-examine will be "incomplete and unfair". She wanted the committee to answer in writing and place on record their decision to either allow or disallow her request for cross examination.

Emphasising that Parliamentary committees lack criminal jurisdiction and have no mandate to investigate alleged criminality, she said this can only be done by law enforcement agencies. She also sought copies of reports sought by the Ethics Committee from government departments.

Mahua also spoke about the absence of a structured Code of Conduct for MPs and emphasised the need for objectivity and fairness in tackling individual cases while keeping away from political partisanship.