The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday conducted searches on former Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra’s Kolkata residence and several other locations in connection with the alleged cash-for-query case.
Officials said that teams of the central probe agency reached Moitra’s residence in West Bengal’s Kolkata and other locations, informed about the proceedings and began their search operation.
The CBI on Thursday registered an FIR against the former TMC MP after orders from the anti-corruption ombudsman Lokpal, which also directed the probe agency to submit its findings in six months before it after investigating all the aspects of the complaints against Moitra in this matter.
Lokpal’s directives came after it received the probe agency’s findings of its preliminary inquiry into allegations made by BJP Lok Sabha member Nishikant Dubey against Moitra.
The order of the Lokpal bench, comprising of Justice Abhilasha Kumari (judicial member) and members Archana Ramasundaram and Mahender Singh, found that “allegations levelled against the RPS (Respondent Public Servant), most of which are supported by cogent evidence, are extremely serious in nature, especially in view of the position held by her.”
“Therefore, in our considered opinion, a deeper probe is required to establish the truth. This is vital in view of the position and status held by the RPS at the relevant point of time,” it further read.
Hence, it said, “Accordingly, 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 CBI shall also file periodical reports regarding the status of the investigation, every month.”
Mahua Moitra was expelled from the Lok Sabha for “unethical conduct” in December, 2023.
The former MP has challenged her expulsion in the Supreme Court and will again be active during the upcoming general elections as a TMC candidate from the Krishnanagar seat in West Bengal.
Earlier, Dubey had accused Moitra of asking questions in Lok Sabha to target the Adani group and Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the behest of businessman Darshan Hiranandani in exchange for gifts.
Citing a letter he received from advocate Dehadrai, Dubey said the latter shared with him “irrefutable” evidence of bribes allegedly having been paid to the TMC leader by the businessman.
The BJP MP also accused Moitra of compromising national security for monetary gains.
Notably, Moitra had refuted the allegations of any wrongdoing and had rather claimed that she was being targeted because she raised questions on the deals of the Adani group.
(With PTI inputs)
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