No relief for Mahua Moitra in Lok Sabha expulsion case
In a major setback for Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mahua Moitra, the Supreme Court (SC) on Wednesday refused to look into the expulsion of Moitra from the Lok Sabha in the cash-for-query case. While the country's apex court did not dismiss Moitra's challenge against her expulsion from Parliament, the SC stated it would first determine whether it has jurisdiction to hear the issue.
Why does this story matter?
The cash-for-query controversy started after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey claimed Moitra took bribes from businessman Darshan Hiranandani to ask questions targeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Adani Group in Parliament. Moitra was expelled on December 8 after the Ethics Committee adopted a report that found her guilty of taking gifts and illicit gratuities from a businessman to advance his interests.
SC gives Lok Sabha secretariat 3 weeks to respond
Representing the Lok Sabha secretariat, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that the SC should not interfere in decisions made in Parliament. "If we have the power of judicial review, we will investigate," the SC stated while issuing a notice to the Lok Sabha Secretariat. The House Secretariat has been given three weeks to respond, after which Moitra will also get the time to reply.
Bench rejects request to allow Moitra to attend LS proceedings
The top court reportedly cited the Budget session, due next month, for its decision to decline the TMC leader's request for an early hearing. Additionally, the bench rejected senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi's request to allow Moitra to attend Lok Sabha proceedings as a temporary measure. "No...that will be virtually allowing your writ petition," Justice Sanjiv Khanna said.
Moitra previously admitted sharing Parliament login
Earlier, Moitra admitted to sharing her Parliament login and password credentials with Hiranandani, claiming no rule prohibits it. The expelled TMC MP also admitted to receiving gifts from the businessman as a friend but rejected accepting cash from him. "Ethics panel punishing me for practice that is routine, accepted and encouraged in Lok Sabha," Moitra further alleged.
Details on Moitra's urgent hearing plea
In her petition, the TMC leader challenged her disqualification and highlighted that she wasn't allowed to defend herself during the Lok Sabha discussion on the panel's findings. Moitra's counsel, Singhvi, sought an urgent hearing date for her plea last month, to which Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud assured that the court would consider the request.
