Mahua Moitra received unverified details from various sources, affidavit claims (File/PTI)
New Delhi:
Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra was in regular contact with journalists from the Financial Times, the New York Times, the BBC and several national publications, businessman Darshan Hiranandani alleged in an explosive affidavit today. The businessman found himself at the center of a political vortex after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey accused Ms Moitra of taking cash and favors from the Hiranandani group to question the Adani group and attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“She (Mahua Moitra) also had frequent interactions with international journalists from the Financial Times, the New York Times, the BBC, as well as several Indian publications,” the affidavit said.
The firebrand MP was given “unverified information about Gautam Adani and his companies” by several lawyers and Indian journalists, it alleged.
“Ms. Moitra took help in her attempt from other people like Sucheta Dalal, Shardul Shroff and Pallavi Shroff, who also contacted her and provided her with all kinds of unverified information related to Gautam Adani and his companies,” the affidavit said , consulted by NDTV.
“She also received unverified data from various sources, including some claiming to be former employees of the Adani group. Certain information was shared with me, based on which I continued to draft and post questions using her parliamentary login when necessary,” Mr Hiranandani said.
Journalist Suchet Dalal, however, denied knowing Ms Moitra personally and sought the government’s help to “prevent this kind of defamation by some hoodlums”.
This is completely baffling – I don’t know @MahuaMoitra personally not at all – I may have retweeted some of her stuff. I don’t know Pallavi Shroff and I used to know it #ShardulShroff long ago. I challenge anyone to find any connection between me and them. Requesting ICT Minister @Rajeev_GoI… https://t.co/uwJ5JymOc3
— Sucheta Dalal (@suchetadalal) October 19, 2023
“This is completely baffling – I don’t know Mahua Moitra personally at all – I may have retweeted some of her stuff. I don’t know Pallavi Shroff and I knew Shardul Shroff way back. I challenge anyone to find links between me and them. I ask IT Minister Rajeev Chandrashekhar to help me get to the bottom of this. Ashwini Vaishnaw, please help too. This is one time when the government should help prevent this kind of slander by some crooks,” she wrote on X.
Last week, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, citing a letter he received from lawyer Jai Anand Dehadrai, accused Ms Moitra of taking money and favors from businessman Darshan Hiranandani to raise questions in Parliament to undermine Prime Minister Modi and the Adani attack group. The MP took his complaint to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla and demanded immediate suspension of Ms Moitra.
Following this, the Speaker referred the matter to the Lok Sabha ethics committee, which asked BJP MP and advocate Jai Anand Dehadrai for a hearing on October 26.
The Trinamool Congress MP has denied all allegations and said she is ready to face investigation.
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