NEW DELHI: The Lok Sabha on Friday expelled Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra after holding her guilty of sharing her credentials with others and accepting gifts from a businessman to extend favours.
After a heated debate during which Moitra was not allowed to speak, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi moved a motion to expel the Trinamool member for “unethical conduct”, which was adopted by a voice vote.
The Ethics Committee of the Lok Sabha had recommended Moitra’s expulsion from the House over the “cash-for-query” allegation.
Key findings and conclusions made in the panel report:
After a heated debate during which Moitra was not allowed to speak, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi moved a motion to expel the Trinamool member for “unethical conduct”, which was adopted by a voice vote.
The Ethics Committee of the Lok Sabha had recommended Moitra’s expulsion from the House over the “cash-for-query” allegation.
Key findings and conclusions made in the panel report:
- “The highly objectionable and deplorable conduct of Mahua Moitra also prima facie has an impact on national security … the serious misdemeanours on the part of Mahua Moitra calls for severe punishment, which could not be less than her immediate ‘expulsion’ from the Membership of the 17th Lok Sabha”
- “As regards taking ‘cash’ from Darshan Hiranandani as a sequel to ‘quid pro quo’, the committee wish to candidly point out that they do not have the technical wherewithal and expertise to criminally investigate and unearth the ‘money trail’, which is invariably the task of the Central government institutions. The committee, therefore, recommend that the cash transaction between Mahua Moitra and Darshan Hiranandani as a part of ‘quid pro quo’ could be investigated by the Government of India in a time-bound manner.”
- “In view of highly objectionable, unethical, heinous and criminal conduct of Mahua Moitra, the committee recommends for an intense, legal, institutional inquiry by the Government of India in a time-bound manner.”