Mahua Moitra: The outspoken Indian politician involved in a 'cash-for-query' controversy.

Mahua Moitra, a member of the opposition Trinamool Congress party (TMC), is facing allegations of misconduct in parliament. Nishikant Dubey, a lawmaker from the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has accused Moitra of accepting bribes in exchange for asking questions targeting the Adani Group, a major business conglomerate. Moitra has denied the allegations and is willing to face an inquiry. A parliamentary ethics committee has started the hearing on the case. However, even if the committee rules against Moitra, it does not have the power to punish her. The recommendation will need to be accepted or rejected by the house. If expelled from parliament, Moitra can challenge the decision in court. The controversy surrounding Moitra stems from the scrutiny of the Adani Group's financial dealings. Hindenburg Research, a US firm, published a report in January accusing the conglomerate of stock manipulation and accounting fraud. Moitra and other opposition lawmakers have called for an investigation into the allegations against the Adani Group. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) is currently investigating the matter. The accusations against Moitra were made by Dubey, who received information from advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai. Dubey claimed that Dehadrai provided evidence of bribes exchanged between Moitra and businessman Darshan Hiranandani to target the Adani Group and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Moitra has filed defamation cases against Dubey, Dehadrai, and several news organizations. The Hiranandani Group has refuted the allegations as well. However, on October 20, Hiranandani submitted an affidavit to the ethics committee, changing his position and claiming that Moitra targeted the Adani Group to gain fame. He also accused Moitra of sharing her parliamentary login credentials with him. The controversy surrounding Moitra has gained national attention. She is seen as a significant political figure with appeal among both urban and rural voters in West Bengal. Supporters of Moitra believe that the controversy is a ploy by the BJP to undermine her popularity ahead of the 2024 general elections. Federal minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has emphasized the gravity of the allegations against Moitra. Moitra, a former banker, joined the TMC in 2010 and has been an influential figure within the party. In her maiden speech in parliament, she criticized the BJP government, leading to both praise and criticism. She is now closely watched for reactions from TMC leader Mamata Banerjee, especially considering their previous public disagreement.