Nishikant Dubey: Moitra’s case is far more “serious” than the 2005 cash-for-question scam

The accusations against TMC MP Mahua Moitra, according to Bharatiya Janata Party MP Nishikant Dubey, are far more “serious” than the 2005 cash for query scam case, which resulted in the suspension of 11 Members of Parliament. The BJP MP claimed in a letter to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla that Moitra accepted bribes from businessman Hiranandani, based in Dubai, in exchange for raising questions in parliament. The MP also mentioned that MPs had previously been suspended for raising questions in the legislature for Rs 10,000.

“MPs have been suspended in the Parliament for asking questions for Rs 10,000. This (Moitra’s case) is a more serious matter than that,” Dubey said while speaking to reporters in Gwalior.
When asked about Lok Sabha Ethics Committee’s summon to Mahua Moitra on Thursday, he said that as per rules, it would be unappropriate to speak on the matter which is already being probed by the panel.
He, however, said that he would reply on the matter after the Committee’s verdict.
In 2005, 11 then MPs– Chhatarpal Singh Lodha (BJP), Anna Saheb M K Patil (BJP), Manoj Kumar (RJD), Chandra Pratap Singh (BJP), Ram Sewak Singh (Congress), Narender Kumar Kushwaha (BSP), Pradeep Gandhi (BJP), Suresh Chandel (BJP), Lal Chandra Kol (BSP), YG Mahajan (BJP), Raja Rampal (BSP)– were accused of involved in a ‘cash-for-query’ scam.

The two journalists allegedly carried out a sting operation against these MPs, which was broadcast on a private news channel on December 12, 2005, and became known as the “cash-for-question scam.” The expulsion was contested by the suspended lawmakers, but in a 2007 ruling, the Supreme Court upheld it.