Anti-corruption ombudsman Lokpal on Tuesday directed the CBI to examine the cash-for-query allegations against Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mahua Moitra and submit findings earlier than it inside six months.
Anti-corruption ombudsman Lokpal on Tuesday directed the CBI to examine the cash-for-query allegations against Trinamool Congress (TMC) chief Mahua Moitra and submit findings earlier than it inside six months, in accordance to an order. Moitra was expelled from the Lok Sabha in December final yr for “unethical conduct” and has moved the Supreme Court difficult her expulsion. She has been renominated by the celebration as its candidate from the Krishnanagar Lok Sabha seat in West Bengal.
The Lokpal directive got here whereas deciding a grievance by BJP Lok Sabha member Nishikant Dubey alleging that Moitra had requested questions within the Lok Sabha in change for money and presents from Dubai-based businessman Darshan Hiranandani to mount an assault on industrialist Gautam Adani and Prime Minister Narendra Modi amongst others.
“After careful evaluation and consideration of the entire material on record, there remains no doubt regarding the fact that the allegations levelled against the RPS (Respondent Public Servant), most of which are supported by cogent evidence, are extremely serious in nature, especially given the position held by her,” reads the Lokpal order.
It has referred to Moitra because the RPS within the order. “Therefore, in our considered opinion, a deeper probe is required to establish the truth. This is vital given the position and status held by the RPS at the relevant point of time,” mentioned the order of the Lokpal bench comprising Justice Abhilasha Kumari (judicial member) and Members Archana Ramasundaram and Mahender Singh.
It mentioned, no matter be the place held, a public servant is sure to train probity within the discharge of his or her duties. “The responsibility and burden are heavier on the shoulders of a public representative. Corruption is a malaise that is adversely affecting the legislative, administrative, social and economic functioning of this democratic country,” the order mentioned.
“It is a duty cast upon us and, indeed, the mandate of the (Lokpal) Act, that all attempts be made to root out corruption and corrupt practices that bring under their fold aspects such as undue advantage, illegal gain or benefit and quid pro quo in the discharge of public duties,” it mentioned.
Accordingly, “we direct the CBI…To investigate all aspects of the allegations made in the complaint, and submit a copy of the investigation report within six months from the date of receipt of this order”, the order mentioned.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) can even file periodical stories concerning the standing of the investigation each month, it added. Dubey, who represents Jharkhand’s Godda within the Lok Sabha, in a submit on X shared excerpts from the Lokpal order and mentioned Moitra “mortgaged” the nation’s safety with Hiranandani for cash.
“Satyamev Jayate. Today, considering my complaint as true, Lokpal ordered the CBI to investigate Mahua Moitra. That is, for a few rupees, the former Trinamool Congress MP indulged in corruption and mortgaged the country’s security with Hiranandani,” he mentioned in his submit in Hindi.
Dubey in his grievance mentioned that he had acquired a letter dated October 14, 2023, from Supreme Court lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai alleging that “the RPS shared her Lok Sabha login credentials i.E. User identity and password of the Lok Sabha ‘Member Portal’ with Shri Darshan Hiranandani…” who in flip “posted questions in the name of the RPS in Parliament, while the RPS was travelling abroad”.
It was alleged that Moitra acquired “Rs 2 crore in cash from Shri Darshan Hiranandani, in Indian and foreign currency, in lieu of asking questions in Parliament”. The grievance alleged that Moitra requested roughly 50 questions in Parliament pertaining straight to the enterprise pursuits of Hiranandani and his firm, and allegedly acquired Rs 75 lakh from him prior to the Lok Sabha elections that occurred in 2019.
Hearing the grievance, a full bench of the Lokpal on November 8 final yr directed the CBI to conduct a preliminary inquiry and submit its report by December 22, 2023. Later, the CBI had requested for extension of time by three months for the submission of the preliminary inquiry report.
The CBI submitted the report together with voluminous annexures, working into roughly 1,500 pages, the Lokpal order mentioned. It talked about that the primary allegation against Moitra of sharing her login credentials with Hiranandani “is prima facie substantiated”.
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The CBI’s preliminary report, nonetheless, mentions that Dehadrai “could not provide any additional or corroborative details” concerning allegations against Moitra for taking Rs 2 crore bribe from Hiranandani in May 2021 and for allegedly getting Rs 75 lakh from the businessman prior to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.
“The third and fourth allegations regarding the demand of the RPS for various logistic/travel expenses/ and gifts in India and abroad and the support received from Shri Darshan Hiranandani in the renovation of her official bungalow, have been substantiated as per the report of the CBI,” the Lokpal order mentioned.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by DNA employees and is revealed from PTI)
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