'Cash for query': Hiranandani backs charges in jolt for Moitra

Darshan Hiranandani, the businessman named in Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lawmaker Nishikant Dubey's complaint to the Lok Sabha speaker on Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra allegedly receiving money and gifts for posing certain questions in Parliament, gave a signed affidavit on Thursday that corroborated Dubey's claims.

Hiranandani -- who confirmed over WhatsApp that he released the statement - admitted that he gave Moitra information on the basis of which she could pose questions attacking the Adani Group; that she received information from others too on this; that he gifted her "expensive luxury items" and underwrote the "renovation of her official" bungalow; and that she provided him with her Parliament login and password so that I could "post questions directly on her behalf".

All of these are charges mentioned, in part or full, in Dubey's letter, which described the charges as "cash for query", and which was based on a letter written by a lawyer and former friend of Moitra, Jai Anant Dehadrai, to him (Dubey). Dehadrai also wrote to the Central Bureau of Investigation in this regard.

The ethics committee of Parliament is already looking into Dubey's complaint, and Hiranandani's letter puts Moitra in a spot.

If found guilty, she could be expelled from Parliament.

In a statement, Moitra denied the charges. "Every effort is being made to malign me... and scare those near and dear to me... This is part of the establishment's witch hunt every political leader who dares question Adani," she said.

Dubey's letter to speaker Om Birla last Sunday provoked an angry response from Moitra who has sued him, Dehadrai, and several media organisations (including HT) for carrying a news report based on the BJP MP's complaint.