Indian law enforcement agency, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), has filed a money laundering case against All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mahua Moitra and businessman Darshan Hiranandani in connection with an alleged cash-for-queries scam case, news agency PTI reported on Tuesday (Apr 2) citing official sources.&nbsp;

Moitra, a former Member of Parliament from Krishnanagar seat in the state of West Bengal, was expelled from the Lok Sabha for "unethical conduct" last year in December. However, she challenged her expulsion and moved the Supreme Court.&nbsp;

She has been renominated by the party as its candidate from the Krishnanagar Lok Sabha seat in West Bengal for the upcoming election.&nbsp;

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The sources reportedly said that the federal agency filed the enforcement case information report (ECIR), the ED equivalent of a police FIR, against the two. The ED case was registered two or three days ago.&nbsp;

The accused are being probed under the civil sections of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). The probe agency has also called Moitra and Dubai-based businessman Hiranandani in this case for questioning.&nbsp;

However, they have cited official engagements and have not appeared for probe till now.&nbsp;

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In March, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had conducted searches at the premises of Moitra. They carried out searches after filing a FIR.&nbsp;

CBI officials had said that the CBI registered an FIR against her and Hiranandani on the directives of Lokpal which has instructed the agency to file its report within six months.&nbsp;

The Lokpal of India, the anti-corruption authority, last month ordered the CBI to register and probe the cash-for-query case against Moitra. The investigation was supposed to be under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA).&nbsp;

"We direct the CBI, under Section 20(3)(a) to investigate all aspects of the allegations made in the complaint, and submit a copy of the Investigation Report within a period of six months from the date of receipt of this order," the order read. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Indian law enforcement agency, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), has filed a money laundering case against All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mahua Moitra and businessman Darshan Hiranandani in connection with an alleged cash-for-queries scam case, news agency PTI reported on Tuesday (Apr 2) citing official sources.

Indian law enforcement agency, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), has filed a money laundering case against All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mahua Moitra and businessman Darshan Hiranandani in connection with an alleged cash-for-queries scam case, news agency PTI reported on Tuesday (Apr 2) citing official sources. Moitra, a former Member of Parliament from Krishnanagar seat in the state of West Bengal, was expelled from the Lok Sabha for "unethical conduct" last year in December. However, she challenged her expulsion and moved the Supreme Court. She has been renominated by the party as its candidate from the Krishnanagar Lok Sabha seat in West Bengal for the upcoming election. Also read: Delhi liquor policy case: Supreme Court grants bail to AAP MP Sanjay Singh after ED says it has no objection The sources reportedly said that the federal agency filed the enforcement case information report (ECIR), the ED equivalent of a police FIR, against the two. The ED case was registered two or three days ago. The accused are being probed under the civil sections of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). The probe agency has also called Moitra and Dubai-based businessman Hiranandani in this case for questioning. However, they have cited official engagements and have not appeared for probe till now. Also read: 'Absolute defiance': Supreme Court bashes Ramdev in misleading ads case, says ‘be ready for action now’ Watch: Indian elections 2024: India's first-time voters speak about their expectations × In March, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had conducted searches at the premises of Moitra. They carried out searches after filing a FIR. CBI officials had said that the CBI registered an FIR against her and Hiranandani on the directives of Lokpal which has instructed the agency to file its report within six months. The Lokpal of India, the anti-corruption authority, last month ordered the CBI to register and probe the cash-for-query case against Moitra. The investigation was supposed to be under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA). "We direct the CBI, under Section 20(3)(a) to investigate all aspects of the allegations made in the complaint, and submit a copy of the Investigation Report within a period of six months from the date of receipt of this order," the order read. (With inputs from agencies)

Cash-for-query row: ED files money laundering case against Mahua Moitra, Darshan Hiranandani

The Enforcement Directorate has issued fresh summons to Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra and businessman Darshan Hiranandani in a case related to contravention of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).

The Enforcement Directorate has issued fresh summons to Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra and businessman Darshan Hiranandani in a case related to contravention of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). The two have been ordered to report for questioning on March 28. Previously, Darshan Hiranandani, a Dubai-based businessman, was summoned by the agency in a FEMA case against his Mumbai-based real estate group. Earlier, his father, Niranjan Hiranandani, had appeared before the ED in Mumbai. It has been reported that Mahua Moitra was summoned twice by the ED, but she declined to appear, citing official work, and requested a deferral of the notice. Recently, an advocate who is allegedly connected to Moitra was questioned by the ED on Wednesday at its office in New Delhi, according to PTI. The Central Bureau of Investigation conducted a raid at the premises of Mahua Moitra in connection with the cash-for-query case, following the directive of the anti-corruption ombudsman Lokpal, to investigate the allegations made against her by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey. Who is Darshan Hiranandani? Darshan Hiranandani is the son of the property tycoon Niranjan Hiranandani and he heads his family-run property empire. He is primarily engaged in managing the company's international real estate projects. His firm has set up projects in multiple Indian cities including Bengaluru, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, and Hyderabad. Hiranandani Group is also expanding its business in upcoming sectors such as data centres, cloud computing, energy, and industrial warehousing. Apart from holding a key post in the Hiranandani Group, Darshan also holds leadership roles in H-Energy Pvt, where he oversees the operation of data centres in Navi Mumbai and Noida. His father, Niranjan Hiranandani, has a net worth of over $1.4 billion. Why has ED summoned Darshan Hiranandani? BJP MP, Nishikant Dubey, has accused Mahua Moitra of accepting cash and gifts from Darshan Hiranandani in exchange for asking questions in the House that would attack industrialist Gautam Adani and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, among others. Dubey's allegations were based on a complaint filed by advocate Jai Dehadrai, who alleged that Moitra compromised national security in return for gifts and cash from Hiranandani. Based on this complaint, the Lok Sabha ethics committee had decided to expel Moitra from Parliament. (With inputs from agencies)

Who is Darshan Hiranandani? Why has ED summoned him in FEMA case linked to Mahua Moitra?

A Mumbai-based businessman Darshan Hiranandani has claimed that he used Opposition lawmaker Mahua Moitra's login credentials to question Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government on matters related to another businessman Gautam Adani.&nbsp;

Mahua Moitra, a Member of Parliament for Trinamool Congress (TMC) from West Bengal state's Krishnanagar constituency, was accused by her&nbsp;former personal friend&nbsp;and lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai and Nishikant Dubey&nbsp;—&nbsp;a&nbsp;lawmaker from PM Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party&nbsp;— of accepting money and expensive gifts for asking a certain set of questions in Lok Sabha or People's House, the lower house of Indian parliament where the lawmakers are directly elected by the people in general elections.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-bjp-mp-claims-mahua-moitra-took-bribes-to-ask-questions-in-parliament-tmc-leader-welcomes-probe-647284">India: BJP MP claims Mahua Moitra took bribes to ask questions in Parliament; TMC leader welcomes probe</a>

The row has come to be known as 'cash for query' controversy in and beyond the corridors of power in New Delhi.&nbsp;

Mahua Moitra has filed a defamation&nbsp;suit before the Delhi High Court against Dehadrai&nbsp;and Dubey.

Hiranandani claimed that Mahua Moitra asked questions related to Gautam Adani at his behest to "malign and embarrass" Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The Mumbai-based businessman made these claims in a signed affidavit, and added that he used Moitra's parliamentary login credentials after India's state-owned petroleum behemoth Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) booked capacity at the Adani Group-owned Dhamra LNG import facility and not at his firm's planned facility.

<h2>Mahua Moitra 'made frequent demands' for expensive items: Darshan Hiranandani</h2>

Mahua Moitra, Hiranandani&nbsp;claimed, "made frequent demands" for "expensive luxury items, providing support on the renovation of her officially allotted bungalow in Delhi, travel expenses, holidays, etc, apart from providing secretarial and logistical help for her travels within India and to different parts of the world."

Meanwhile, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey’s complaint has been referred by the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to Parliament’s Ethics Committee.

Hiranandani said that Mahua Moitra became a "close personal friend" after he met her at the Bengal Global Business Summit 2017.

"Moitra was very ambitious and wanted to make a name for herself at the national level," he said of her winning the Lok Sabha election from Krishnanagar in West Bengal in 2019.

"She was advised by her friends and advisors that the shortest possible route to fame is by personally attacking Modi."

But the prime minister enjoyed "an impeccable reputation and was not giving any opportunity to anyone to attack him in policy, governance or personal conduct," he said.

"As was her want, she thought that the only way to attack Modi is by attacking Gautam Adani and his group as both were contemporaries and they belong to the same state of Gujarat."

Hiranandani said Moitra knew about IOC choosing Dhamra over his company’s LNG terminal.

"Based on this information, Moitra drafted a few questions that would have elements to embarrass the government by targeting the Adani group; questions that she could raise in Parliament."

"She shared with me her email ID as Member of Parliament, so that I could send her information, and she could raise the questions in the Parliament. I went along with her proposal," he claimed.

She "provided me with her Parliament login and password so that I could post the questions directly on her behalf when required."

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A Mumbai-based businessman Darshan Hiranandani has claimed that he used Opposition lawmaker Mahua Moitra's login credentials to question Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government on matters related to another businessman Gautam Adani.

A Mumbai-based businessman Darshan Hiranandani has claimed that he used Opposition lawmaker Mahua Moitra's login credentials to question Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government on matters related to another businessman Gautam Adani. Mahua Moitra, a Member of Parliament for Trinamool Congress (TMC) from West Bengal state's Krishnanagar constituency, was accused by her former personal friend and lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai and Nishikant Dubey — a lawmaker from PM Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party — of accepting money and expensive gifts for asking a certain set of questions in Lok Sabha or People's House, the lower house of Indian parliament where the lawmakers are directly elected by the people in general elections. Also read | India: BJP MP claims Mahua Moitra took bribes to ask questions in Parliament; TMC leader welcomes probe The row has come to be known as 'cash for query' controversy in and beyond the corridors of power in New Delhi. Mahua Moitra has filed a defamation suit before the Delhi High Court against Dehadrai and Dubey. Hiranandani claimed that Mahua Moitra asked questions related to Gautam Adani at his behest to "malign and embarrass" Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The Mumbai-based businessman made these claims in a signed affidavit, and added that he used Moitra's parliamentary login credentials after India's state-owned petroleum behemoth Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) booked capacity at the Adani Group-owned Dhamra LNG import facility and not at his firm's planned facility. Mahua Moitra 'made frequent demands' for expensive items: Darshan Hiranandani Mahua Moitra, Hiranandani claimed, "made frequent demands" for "expensive luxury items, providing support on the renovation of her officially allotted bungalow in Delhi, travel expenses, holidays, etc, apart from providing secretarial and logistical help for her travels within India and to different parts of the world." Meanwhile, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey’s complaint has been referred by the Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla to Parliament’s Ethics Committee. Hiranandani said that Mahua Moitra became a "close personal friend" after he met her at the Bengal Global Business Summit 2017. "Moitra was very ambitious and wanted to make a name for herself at the national level," he said of her winning the Lok Sabha election from Krishnanagar in West Bengal in 2019. "She was advised by her friends and advisors that the shortest possible route to fame is by personally attacking Modi." But the prime minister enjoyed "an impeccable reputation and was not giving any opportunity to anyone to attack him in policy, governance or personal conduct," he said. "As was her want, she thought that the only way to attack Modi is by attacking Gautam Adani and his group as both were contemporaries and they belong to the same state of Gujarat." Hiranandani said Moitra knew about IOC choosing Dhamra over his company’s LNG terminal. "Based on this information, Moitra drafted a few questions that would have elements to embarrass the government by targeting the Adani group; questions that she could raise in Parliament." "She shared with me her email ID as Member of Parliament, so that I could send her information, and she could raise the questions in the Parliament. I went along with her proposal," he claimed. She "provided me with her Parliament login and password so that I could post the questions directly on her behalf when required." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

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