Shruti Suman
New Delhi: Today, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) conducted a search at the home of Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra in Kolkata as part of the cash-for-query case. This action follows the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against Mahua Moitra by the CBI yesterday.
Earlier this week, the anti-corruption body Lokpal instructed the CBI to investigate the allegations against Ms. Moitra and submit a report within six months. The CBI was also directed to provide monthly updates on the investigation’s progress. In its order, Lokpal emphasized the seriousness of the allegations against Mahua Moitra, citing substantial evidence and the significance of her position.
Mahua Moitra was expelled from the Lok Sabha in December last year after an ethics panel recommended her removal. She was accused of accepting bribes from businessman Darshan Hiranandani in exchange for posing critical questions about the Narendra Modi government in Parliament. Add on, she was also accused of sharing confidential login credentials for the parliamentary website with Mr. Hiranandani so as to enable him to post questions directly.
Moitra denied the bribery allegations but admitted to sharing the login details, arguing that such sharing is a common practice among MPs. Moitra has challenged her expulsion in the Supreme Court.
