The Modi Question: Insider Turns Approver in Cash-For-Query Scam
4 min read
In an explosive turn of events, Mahua Moitra, a Member of Parliament in India, finds herself embroiled in a political storm as allegations of her involvement in a cash-for-query scam threaten to tear apart her feisty stand against alleged favouritism in the ruling BJP government. The scandal revolves around claims that she asked questions in Parliament specifically targeting billionaire businessman, Gautam Adani, in exchange for money and lavish gifts. These allegations have sent shockwaves through the political landscape, drawing attention to the alleged improprieties of a public official. Moitra denied all allegations claiming it was a witch-hunt against her for exposing corruption in their ranks. But she was taken to the cleaners Thursday, when the person who had allegedly helped her with putting up the queries in the parliament, confessed to the allegations of the scam first made by BJP legislator Nishikant Dubey.
The Insider Account
She shared with me her email ID as a Member of Parliament, so that I could send her information, and she could raise the questions in the Parliament. She later provided me her Parliament login and password so that I could post the questions directly.
Darshan Hiranandani
One of the key figures in this unfolding saga, businessman Darshan Hiranandani, reportedly gifted Mahua Moitra “expensive luxury items” and admittedly underwrote the renovation of her residence allotted to her as a parliamentarian. The most damning piece of evidence, however, is an affidavit signed and released by Hiranandani himself. In a shocking confession made public on Thursday, the Dubai-based businessman disclosed his role in shredding Mahua Moitra’s claims of speaking truth to power. He exposed her as a corrupt lawmaker who was allegedly complicit in a coordinated effort to manipulate parliamentary proceedings and tarnish the image of prime minister Narendra Modi.
Hiranandani’s affidavit which went viral on the social media platform, X, outlines a series of events that suggest a carefully planned strategy to target businessman Gautam Adani. Mahua Moitra’s motive, as outlined in the document, was to quickly gain national recognition by personally attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The affidavit reveals that Moitra believed the most effective way to undermine Modi’s leadership was to attack Adani, who, like the Prime Minister, hails from the state of Gujarat.
According to the affidavit, Moitra drafted questions with the intention of embarrassing the government by singling out the Adani group. She shared her email ID as a Member of Parliament with Hiranandani so that he could send her information, which she would then use to raise questions in Parliament. To facilitate this scheme, the businessman alleges that, “She shared with me her email ID as a Member of Parliament, so that I could send her information, and she could raise the questions in the Parliament. She later provided me her Parliament login and password so that I could post the questions directly.”
The affidavit goes on to allege that the TMC MP had interactions with several Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, regarding matters related to Adani’s companies. Moitra was said to have received unverified information from various sources, including some claiming to be former Adani group employees. These tidbits served as the basis for the questions she reportedly raised in Parliament.
It is totally illogical and only cements the truth that this letter was drafted by the PMO and not Darshan.
Mahua Moitra, Member of Parliament
The affidavit concludes with allegations that Moitra made numerous demands on Hiranandani, including expensive luxury items, support for the renovation of her Delhi bungalow, travel expenses, holidays, and logistical assistance for her travels within India and abroad. His statement seems to corroborate the allegations levelled against the parliamentarian from the Trinamool Congress Party. The businessman even confessed that, “Many a times, I felt that she was taking undue advantage of me and pressurising me to do things I didn’t want to, but I had no choice, because of the aforementioned reasons.”
“A gun was put to his head”
The TMC MP has questioned the so-called affidavit of Darshan Hiranandani, her friend who turned an approver in the case. She questioned why Hiranandani’s affidavit was not on a formal letterhead and did not come through a formal channel? “The affidavit is on white paper and not on official letterhead or notarized. Why would one of India’s most respected/ educated businessmen sign a letter like this on white paper unless a gun was put to his head to do it?”
The firebrand parliamentarian questioned the timing of the businessman’s affidavit. “Hiranandani has not been summoned by the CBI or the Ethics committee or indeed by any investigative agency yet. Who then has he given this affidavit to?” she asked in her pointed rebuttal of the claims made by her “friend”.
In her two-page statement she goes on to allege that the businessman was coerced into filing the affidavit. “Darshan and his father run one of India’s largest business groups and their recent projects in UP and Gujarat have been inaugurated by the CM of Uttar Pradesh and by the Prime Minister… Why would such a wealthy successful businessman who enjoys direct access to every Minister and the PMO be coerced by a first time Opposition MP into giving her gifts and giving into her demands? It is totally illogical and only cements the truth that this letter was drafted by the PMO and not Darshan,” she asked in her rebuttal.
These revelations have sent shockwaves through the Indian political landscape, raising questions about the integrity of parliamentary proceedings and the ethical conduct of public officials. Mahua Moitra now faces scrutiny and potential legal consequences as these allegations are thoroughly investigated.
