Some half-wit in PMO drafted it: Mahua Moitra questions credibility of Darshan Hiranandani's affidavit

New Delhi: Raising a question mark over the affidavit by Hiranandani Group CEO Darshan Hiranandani seeking to substantiate allegations against her, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has claimed that it was drafted by "some half-wit in the PMO" who also "doubles up as a creative writer in the BJP's IT Cell" and made to sign it after threatening the businessman with "total shut down of his family enterprises.

In a statement after Darshan's 'affidavit' came to light on Thursday, Mahua said the contents of the letter were a "joke" and sang paeans to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and industrialist Gautam Adani while linking "every opponent to theirs" to her and her alleged corruption.

She also claimed that the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) held a "proverbial gun" to Darshan, who she described as a "dear friend", and his father's head and gave just 20 minutes to sign it after threatening them with a "total shutdown of their businesses".

Separately on 'X', she said she welcomes answering questions to the CBI and Ethics Committee, which has "absolute majority" of BJP members, if and when they call me. "I have neither time nor interest to feed a Adani-directed media circus trial or answer BJP trolls. I am enjoying Durga Puja in Nadia. Shubho Sashthi," she said.

In his 'affidavit', Darshan has claimed that he had allegedly given gifts to Mahua to raise questions in Parliament about Adani Group and that she targeted Adani to "malign and embarrass" Modi whose "impeccable reputation gave the opposition no opportunity to attack him". He has also claimed that he had access to Mahua's Parliament log-in and password to post questions directly. The Lok Sabha Ethics Committee has confirmed that it has received the ‘affidavit’ from Darshan.

"Three days ago (On October 16), the Hiranandani Group put out an official press release stating that all charges levelled against them were baseless. Today (On October 19), an 'approver affidavit' has been leaked to the press. This 'affidavit' is on a white piece of paper with no letterhead and there is no official origin aside from a press leak. "Why would one of India's most respected/educated businessmen sign a letter like this on white paper unless a gun was put to his head to do it," she asked.

"Though tragic, it is totally understandable that Darshan (who is a dear friend) would need to think of what is at stake for him here - namely the continuation of his family businesses built up over decades and the fate of thousands of employees - and buckle under pressure and sign this," she said.

Referring to Darshan's claims that he gave in to her demands "because he was fearful of displeasing me", she asked why would such a "wealthy successful businessman who enjoys direct access to every Minister and the PMO be coerced by a first-time opposition MP into giving her gifts and giving into her demands". She added, "it is totally illogical and only cements the truth that this letter was drafted by the PMO and not Darshan."

Hitting out at her former partner and lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai, who accused her of taking bribes for questions, she said the "painstaking research" is done by a "jilted ex with an acrimonious personal history with me who wanted to somehow get back at me. If indeed he was witness to all of my corruption, then why was he with me during the time and why did he wait till now to make it public?"

"Also if he wrote to CBI and the LS Speaker, why out of 543 MPs would he forward the letters to Nishikant Dubey, a man who I have repeatedly exposed in Parliament and outside, and against whom I have filed pending privilege motions," she asked.

She said this part of the establishment's witch-hunt into every political leader who dares to question Adani and this is the price to pay for standing up to the BJP and Adani.

"But they cannot scare me. I will continue to stand up to Mr Adani until he answers the many questions that he's duty bound to answer to the people of this great country. And I will pay any price to protect my country from these criminals," she said.