Mahua Moitra seeks urgent hearing of plea against her expulsion; SC says CJI to take call

Justice SK Kaul told AM Singhvi that the mentioned plea would have to be placed before the CJI who would take a call on the listing.

Published on: Dec 13, 2023, 12:16:37 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra on Wednesday sought an urgent hearing from the Supreme Court, days after she filed a petition challenging her expulsion from the Lok Sabha claiming there was “substantial illegality” and “arbitrariness” in the conduct of the Parliament Ethics Committee and the subsequent House proceedings that found her guilty of jeopardising national security by sharing her parliamentary portal login credentials with her businessman “friend” Darshan Hiranandani.

TMC leader Mahua Moitra after being expelled by the Lok Sabha during the winter session of Parliament. (PTI)

The expediting of the hearing was sought by senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi. The bench headed by Justice SK Kaul informed Singhvi that the mentioned plea would have to be placed before Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud in the afternoon and he would take a call on the listing of the matter.

In her petition filed on Saturday night, within 24 hours of the Lok Sabha accepting the Ethics Committee report on Friday, Moitra alleged that she was not allowed to present her defence in the House during a discussion on the Ethics Committee findings.

The Lok Sabha on October 8 passed a resolution to expel Mahua Moitra from Parliament after the Lok Sabha ethics committee placed a report on the ‘cash-for-query’ case recommending her disqualification as an MP.

She was accused of taking bribes in the form of cash and other gifts from industrialist Darshan Hiranandani in exchange for raising questions in Parliament related to Adani Group's Gautam Adani. The complaint was first filed by Moitra's friend Jai Anant Dehadrai and later taken up with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey.

Moitra challenged the entire proceedings that took place before the Ethics Panel in her petition by saying the panel did not call Hiranandani and simply went by the allegations in the complaint that were supported by an affidavit filed by Hiranandani. She further alleged that the witnesses were not allowed to be cross-examined.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.