New Delhi:
Businessman Darshan Hiranandani today broke silence on his explosive affidavit, insisting that he did not file it under pressure – an accusation leveled by Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, who is currently battling allegations of ‘cash-for-query’.
In an interview with Times Now, Mr Hiranandani said he was speaking out as he called the money-for-questions allegations “direct and personal”. He also admitted using Mahua Moitra’s parliamentary login ID and password to post questions from Dubai – a situation that, if proven, will constitute a breach of her privileges and lead to her suspension from Parliament.
Calling his actions a “crazy error of judgment and deeply regrettable,” he said he had directly embarrassed himself and “my company indirectly” and that it was “my duty to come forward.”
“In any accusation, we prefer to come forward with the truth and that is what I have done in this case,” he said, adding that his affidavit to the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Parliamentary Ethics Commission has been sent.
Reacting to the affidavit that made headlines last week, Mahua Moitra had alleged that the Prime Minister’s Office “held a proverbial gun” to Mr Hiranandani’s head and made him sign a white paper that was later “released to the press was leaked”.
“Darshan Hiranandani has not yet been summoned by the CBI, the Ethics Commission or even by any investigating agency. Who did he give this statement to?,” she had said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter.
Regarding the use of her login and BJP MP Nishikant Dubey’s call for an inquiry, Ms Moitra had made a strong demand.
“Ask NIC to publicly release ALL details of MPs to show that they were physically present at the place where IDs were accessible to their PAs and researchers/interns/staff. Do not use Fake Degree-wala for leaks, fix this NOW public,” she had posted on X.
“All the parliamentary work of MPs is done by PAs, assistants, interns, large teams. Respected @ashwinivaishnaw, please release the location and login details of ALL MPs with CDRs. Please release information about the training given to the staff for logging in,” she had added in another post.
Following a complaint to the CBI by lawyer Jai Anand Dehadrai, Mr Dubey has demanded immediate suspension of Ms Moitra, alleging that she had “taken bribes to raise questions” in Mr Hiranandani’s Parliament to protect the Adani group and to attack Prime Minister Modi.
He has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and accused the Trinamool MP of breach of parliamentary privilege, contempt of the House of Representatives and criminal conspiracy. The matter is now before the Ethics Committee.
Ms Moitra has said she welcomes any form of investigation. “Multiple breaches of privilege against fake diplomawala and other @BJP4India stars. Welcome any motions against me as soon as Speaker finishes considering them,” she posted on X, formerly Twitter.
In his affidavit, Mr Hiranandani had said that Ms Moitra thought the only way to attack Prime Minister Modi was to attack Adani Group chief Gautam Adani and therefore she “expected support”.
For this, she shared her parliamentary login ID so that he could frame the questions. He agreed to the idea because he thought through her he would gain support in opposition-ruled states, he had said in the affidavit.
He had also alleged that Ms Moitra received support in this effort from others, including journalists, opposition leaders and former Adani Group employees, who provided her with unverified information.
In this context, he mentioned Sucheta Dalal – who has denied the allegations in a post on X – and a few others.
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