TMC's Mahua Moitra Moves SC, Challenges Expulsion From Lok Sabha

New Delhi:  Trinamool Congress Party (TMC) leader Mahua Moitra has moved the Supreme Court to challenge her recent expulsion from the Lok Sabha. The expulsion came on December 8 (Friday) following a resolution passed by the Lok Sabha, which was based on the recommendation of an Ethics Committee calling for her disqualification as a Member of Parliament (MP).

The Ethics Committee's recommendation and subsequent report were prompted by a complaint filed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey. Dubey alleged that Moitra had accepted cash in exchange for raising specific questions in parliament. The accusations centred around Moitra posing inquiries concerning the Adani group of companies, purportedly at the behest of a rival businessman, Darshan Hiranandani. Additionally, Moitra was accused of sharing her Lok Sabha log-in credentials with Hiranandani.

The Ethics Committee, after a ‘thorough examination’, found Moitra guilty of serious lapses, describing her conduct as "highly objectionable, unethical, heinous, and criminal." The committee went on to recommend Moitra's expulsion from the 17th Lok Sabha, emphasising the need for an intense, legal, institutional inquiry by the Government of India in a time-bound manner.

According to Bar and Bench, in response to the expulsion, Mahua Moitra has now approached the Supreme Court to challenge the decision. It is expected that her legal team will argue against the severity of the charges and the expulsion, maintaining that due process was not followed and she was not given a fair chance to present her side of the story. 

This latest development has intensified the political storm surrounding Moitra, with the Opposition questioning the timing of the allegations and the subsequent expulsion. Supporters of Moitra argue that she is being unfairly targeted for her vocal stance on issues related to the Adani group.