The Lok Sabha Ethics Committee on Thursday adopted a report by a majority of six to four, recommending the expulsion of TMC MP Mahua Moitra from the House over the ‘cash-for-query’ row.
The committee, headed by BJP MP Vinod Kumar Sonkar, met in New Delhi and adopted its report recommending her expulsion. After the meeting, Sonkar told the media that six members of the panel supported the adoption of the report and four opposed it. The report also demanded severe punishment for Moitra, including a legal inquiry by the government in a time-bound manner. The report will now be sent to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla for further action.
The four opposition members said the panel’s recommendation was “prejudiced” and “incorrect”.
Suspended Congress MP and ethics panel member Preneet Kaur supported the decision. Kaur is the wife of former Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, who had quit the Congress to join the BJP. She was suspended by the Congress in February for alleged anti-party activities.
The committee had earlier heard Moitra, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, who filed the complaint against her and advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai. Based on information shared by Dehadrai, Dubey accused Moitra of asking questions in the Lok Sabha to target the Adani Group and PM Modi at the behest of businessman Darshan Hiranandani in exchange for gifts.
