New Delhi

The Ethics Committee of the lower house of Indian parliament, Lok Sabha, on Friday (Dec 8) disqualified opposition lawmaker Mahua Moitra  following the so-called cash-for-query row. In a rare move of its kind, Moitra, 49, a former investment banker, was suspended from the Lok Sabha.

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Moitra was a Member of Parliament for Trinamool Congress (TMC) from the east Indian West Bengal state's Krishnanagar constituency.

She was accused by her former personal friend and lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai and Nishikant Dubey — a lawmaker from PM Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party — of accepting money and expensive gifts for asking a certain set of questions in Lok Sabha.

Also read | 'Cash for query' row: Trouble mounts for MP Mahua Moitra after businessman turns approver

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Moitra had accepted that she shared her online credentials with a businessman friend to allow submission of her pre-approved questions which she later intended to ask in Lok Sabha.

In Lok Sabha, the lawmakers are directly elected by the people in general elections. Moitra is one of the prominent leaders of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress (TMC), one of a handful of political parties that Modi-led BJP's electoral juggernaut has been unable to dislodge from power in West Bengal state. 

Indian parliament cash-for-query row: What has happened so far?

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BJP MP Nishikant Dubey had approached Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla against Moitra, accusing her of asking questions in Lok Sabha to target the Adani Group at the behest of businessman Darshan Hiranandani, in exchange for gifts. 

Dubey further claimed that lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai provided him with proof of the alleged bribes.

Also watch | TMC MP Mahua Moitra lawyer reportedly urged Dehadrai to withdraw his case

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Nishikant Dubey, an elected representative of Jharkhand state's Godda constituency, had demanded that Moitra be suspended, citing a 2005 precedent when 11 Members of Parliament were disqualified over "cash for query" accusations.

While Moitra herself admitted that she shared her parliamentary login details, she asserted that most MPs share their login credentials with others.

Besides, the businessman in question — Darshan Hiranandani — admitted gifting Moitra "expensive luxury items", as well as payments for the "renovation of her official bungalow".  He also accepted posting "questions directly on her behalf" using the Parliament login and password that Moitra provided him.

Hiranandani made these admissions under Apostille method to the consulate general of India in Dubai. Apostille is a method of certifying a document or statement provided or made in a country other than the one where it is to be used.

The ethics committee took a grim view of the charges against Moitra.  

Mahua Moitra cash-for-query scandal: It all started with a dog

It all started with a custodial battle over Henry, a canine whose ownership was claimed by both Mahua Moitra and Jai Anant Dehadrai, Moitra's former personal friend. Dehadrai eventually got Henry's custody in November. 

Moitra has claimed the charges made against her in the parliament were based on a "jilted ex's lies".

Moitra also filed a number of police complaints against Dehadrai in the last six months for alleged criminal trespass, theft, vulgar messages and abuse, Press Trust of India reported.

On Wednesday (Nov  8), BJP MP Nishikant Dubey claimed that anti-corruption ombudsman Lokpal has ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) based on his complaint in the 'Cash for Query' row.

On October 21, Dubey — apart from complaining to the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla — also filed a complaint with Lokpal against Moitra.

In another turn of events, Moitra had complained to Lok Sabha president Om Birla that she was being "targeted for speaking out" against Adani Group, while referring to the details of the proceedings of Lok Sabha's Ethics Committee being reported in the media. 

Mahua Moitra cash-for-query row: How it ended

The decision of Lok Sabha Ethics Committee consists of a voluminous 500-page report. The report confirmed that Moitra indeed allowed an offshore businessman to access her Parliament login and ask questions on her behalf.

Also read | CBI to probe cash-for-query scam involving TMC MP Mahua Moitra, says BJP MP Nishikant Dubey

This, the Ethics Committee report said, not only breached the parliamentary code of ethics but also compromised the country's national security.

The Lok Sabha Ethics Committee is currently headed by the BJP lawmaker Vinod Kumar Sonkar from Kaushambi constituency of Uttar Pradesh state. 

Its other members are Vishnu Datt Sharma, Sumedhanand Saraswati, Aparajita Sarangi, Dr Rajdeep Roy, Sunita Duggal, and Dr Subhash Bhamre of the BJP; Ve Vaithilingam, N Uttam Kumar Reddy, and Preneet Kaur (Congress); Balashowry Vallabbhaneni (YSR Congress); Hemant Godse (Shiv Sena); Giridhari Yadav (JD-U); P R Natarajan (CPI-M); and Kunwar Danish Ali (BSP).

(With inputs from agencies)