Indian MP Mahua Moitra Accused of Bribery, Faces Parliamentary Ethics Panel Amid Claims of Inappropriate Questioning

Panel Hearing Ends in Walkout After Moitra Alleges Invasive Questioning; BJP Member Accuses TMC MP of Interference in Investigation

Indian MP Mahua Moitra is facing a parliamentary ethics panel over allegations of bribery. She is accused of asking questions in parliament in exchange for gifts and cash from businessman Darshan Hiranandani, specifically targeting the Adani group in her queries, a claim she strongly denies.
The allegations were brought forward by Nishikant Dubey, a member of the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and claim that Moitra accepted bribes amounting to 20m rupees ($240,542; £197,700).
During the hearing, Moitra stormed out, claiming she was asked invasive questions about her personal life. This led to opposition members of the panel staging a walkout and generating criticism on the conduct of the committee's investigation process.
Moitra has filed defamation cases against Nishikant Dubey and Jai Anant Dehadrai, the advocate who reportedly provided evidence against her, in the Delhi high court. She demands the right to cross-question Dehadrai and Hiranandani in the inquiry process.
In multiple statements, Moitra has expressed readiness to cooperate with the investigation but demands protection from what she perceives as misogynistic and indecent behavior during the hearings. She refers to the ethics committee probe as a 'political witch-hunt' meant to suspend her from Parliament.