LS ethics committee likely to recommend TMC MP Moitra's expulsion

NEW DELHI, DHNS: Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, a vocal Modi critic, is on the threshold of being expelled from Lok Sabha with a Parliamentary panel all set to recommend her ouster for “unethical conduct” by impacting national security, following a probe into ‘cash for query’ allegations against her.

The Ethics Committee of Lok Sabha headed by BJP MP Vinod Sonkar will meet on Thursday at 4 PM and is likely to adopt a report, which sources said also has a recommendation for an “intense, legal, institutional inquiry” against Mahua’s “criminal” conduct of sharing Lok Sabha login credentials to unauthorised persons. Once adopted, the report will be tabled in Lok Sabha, which will consider the report and take a final decision on it.

With BJP and its allies having a majority in Lok Sabha, Mahua stands the chance of losing her membership. Five Opposition MPs in the Ethics Committee are likely to submit dissent notes, sources said.

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey and lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai, a former partner of Mahua, had complained to Lok Sabha Speaker accusing her of asking questions to target the Adani Group at the behest of businessman Darshan Hiranandani in exchange for bribes and gifts. She was accused of sharing her log-in credentials so that Darshan could directly key-in questions.

Sources said the draft report found that Mahua’s “serious misdemeanours” calls for “severe punishment” and the committee recommended that Mahua “may be expelled” from the membership of 17th Lok Sabha.

“In view of the highly objectionable, unethical conduct ofMahua Moitra, the committee recommended an intense, legal, institutional inquiry by the Government of India in a time-bound manner,” sources quoted the draft report as saying, in connection with Mahua “sharing” her log-in credentials with Darshan.

On the charges of Mahua “accepting money – cash and kind, amenities and various other facilities” from Darshan, “business tycoon, based in Dubai, UAE”, the draft report said the money trail of cash transactions between the duo as a part of quid pro quo should be investigated by the government in a “legal, institutional and time-bound manner.”

The committee in its draft report also suggested that the panel should “admonish” its member BSP MP Danish Ali for “twisting/moulding” the intent of question put forth by Sonkar to Mahua during November 2 hearing with the “objective of fomenting sentiments of public at large as well as disparaging the self esteem of the chairperson and other members.”