A day after Enforcement Directorate registered a money laundering case against Mahua Moitra, the former Trinamool Congress MP from Krishnanagar, in the cash-for-query case, she hinted at a hidden BJP hand behind the move. She wrote on X: “Khule hai BJP ke Dwaar, Aa jao, Nahi to Abh ke Baar – Tihar”. She also posted a news clipping headlined: “Since 2014, 25 Opposition leaders facing corruption probe crossed over to BJP, 23 of them got reprieve”.
A few hours later, Moitra further uploaded a screenshot of a message purportedly sent to her by her mother which said: “Keep a power of attorney ready in my name. In case they pick you up, I will file the nomination.” She further wrote: “My mother’s answer to BJP’s daily ED/CBI lovefest. You rock Mummy – the original Sherni!”
Sources close to the former MP said Moitra had heard about the similar allegation from AAP leader Atishi and concurred with the charge. Yesterday Atishi had alleged that she had received feelers to join the BJP, otherwise she would be arrested.
The Enforcement Directorate case against Mahua Moitra has been registered on the basis of an FIR filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against the expelled Trinamool Congress lawmaker.
The ED action comes days after the 49-year-old politician skipped the summons by the agency that asked her to appear for questioning in its Delhi office.
Moitra along with businessman Darshan Hiranandani had been served summons by the ED for questioning in a Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) contravention case.
The federal agency filed the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), the ED equivalent of a police FIR, against the two, taking cognisance of a CBI complaint, sources said. The CBI had last month conducted searches, after filing its FIR, at multiple premises belonging to Moitra.
Moitra, who has been renominated by the Trinamool Congress for the Krishnanagar Lok Sabha constituency, was expelled from the Lok Sabha last year. She was found guilty of receiving cash and gifts from Hiranandani in exchange for sharing her Parliament login credentials. The industrialist posted questions on her behalf against Adani Group.
The complaint was first brought up by advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai, and it was later forwarded by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey to Lok Sabha speaker Om Birla.
The issue was transferred to the ethics committee which, after questioning Nishikant Dubey, Dehadrai and Moitra, recommended her expulsion.
Moitra has denied any wrongdoing and claims that she is being targeted as she raised questions about deals of the Adani Group.
“My victory would be a fitting response to the ploy to expel me and harass me through ED and CBI raids,” she said, expressing confidence about a victory in the Lok Sabha elections. Her constituency Krishnanagar will go to the polls on May 13 and her BJP opponent is Amrita Roy from the local royal family. The counting of votes will take place on June 4.