The CBI has started a probe into the cash-for-query allegations against Trinamul Congress MP Mahua Moitra, sources in the agency said on Saturday.
Till late Saturday night, there was no official word from the CBI on the purported probe.
“The agency has initiated a probe against the MP on the orders of the Lokpal. We have so far not registered a preliminary enquiry (PE) or FIR against Mahua Moitra yet,” a CBI source said.
Moitra reacted by posting on X: “Amused to see how headless LokPal with
no full time Chairman ‘referred’ my case to CBI. RTI of 3/11/23 says LokPal has no Chairman since May 2022 & 3 of 8 member posts also vacant!”
She added: “Maybe Jharkhand Branch of Pitbull Association also moonlighting as Lokpal Committee under BJP.”
Mahua added: “Neither has Lok Pal uploaded any referral order on website as per Lokpal Act & nor has CBI put out anything official. ‘Sources’ telling journos as per usual media circus. Hope ₹13,000 crore Adani coal scam merits CBI PE before my witchhunt.”
While recommending Moitra’s expulsion from Parliament over the cash-for-query charges earlier this month, the Lok Sabha’s Ethics Committee had sought an investigation into the allegations.
BJP parliamentarian Nishikant Dubey had forwarded to Speaker Om Birla a complaint from a lawyer that Moitra had received favours from businessman Darshan Hiranandani to ask questions against the Adani group, seen as close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Moitra has dismissed the charges, saying she is being targeted because she is one of very few to stand up to the government and try to expose the Adani group and its alleged nexus with Modi and his government.
Dubey had on October 21 filed a complaint with the Lokpal, the anti-corruption ombudsman, against Moitra accusing her of receiving bribes to ask questions in Parliament. On November 8, Dubey wrote a post on X that said: “On my complaint, Lokpal today ordered a CBI inquiry against accused Mahua Moitra for indulging in corruption at the cost of national security.”
On the same day, Moitra wrote on X: “For media calling me- my answer: 1. CBI needs to first file FIR on ₹13,000 crore Adani coal scam 2. National security issue is how dodgy FPI owned (inc Chinese & UAE ) Adani firms buying Indian ports & airports with @HMOIndia clearance Then CBI welcome to come, count my shoes.”
