Cash-for-query scam: Expulsion hearing for Mahua Moitra adjourned by Supreme Court to January 3
Cash-for-query scam: The Supreme Court has deferred the hearing on the expulsion of Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra from the Lok Sabha until January 3. Justice Sanjay Khanna mentioned that the bench didn't have an opportunity to review the file.
The scheduled hearing regarding the challenge against Mahua Moitra's removal from the Lok Sabha due to the cash-for-query controversy faced a reschedule in the Supreme Court on Friday. Justice Sanjay Khanna, heading the bench, stated a lack of time to examine the case file belonging to the expelled TMC leader.
Consequently, the hearing has been adjourned and will resume on January 3 as stated by Justice Khanna, citing the need to review the case thoroughly before proceeding. The adjournment results in Moitra's inability to attend the remaining sessions of the Winter Parliament, which concludes on December 22.
The expulsion of the TMC leader, initiated on December 8, stemmed from the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee's report on allegations of cash-for-query incidents. Moitra faced accusations of sharing her Parliament access details with businessman Darshan Hiranandani and receiving monetary incentives to pose questions in the House. In response to her removal, Moitra criticized the ethics panel, dubbing it a "kangaroo court" and denouncing its actions as a violation of regulations.
The cash-for-query allegations surfaced after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey forwarded a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, citing Supreme Court lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai's assertions. Dehadrai, Moitra's estranged partner, was the source of these allegations.
The expulsion of the Trinamool leader culminated after an extended inquiry period and scrutiny of documents related to the cash-for-query controversy.
- With inputs from agencies
