Mahua Moitra 'invites' CBI amid cash-for-query row, says not taking Adani's 'deal to shut up'

In the eye of the storm over her alleged involvement in the ‘cash-for-query’ scam, firebrand TMC MP Mahua Moitra on Saturday (October 21) said she is busy with Durga Puja and “invited” the CBI to come home and count the pair of shoes she has.

Taking to the social media platform, Moitra posted a series of tweets lashing out at the Adani Group and BJP MP Nishikant Dubey who levelled ‘cash-for-query’ allegations against her. In one of the tweets, Moitra said, “Also got message about impending CBI raid. I am busy with Durga Puja. I invite CBI to come home & count my pairs of shoes. But first please file FiR into ₹13,000 crore coal money Adani stole from Indians.”

She didn’t spare the Adani Group which she had targeted time and again, particularly after the Hindenburg Report. She tweeted, “Sorry Mr. Adani. I am not taking your deal to shut up for six months in return for “peace”. And nor am I taking the second deal where I am allowed to attack you but not the PM. Adani used to CASH TO NOT QUESTION. Now he is forced to create a fake CASH FOR QUESTIONS.”

Hits out at Dubey

Moitra also hit back at Dubey who fired a fresh salvo at her on Saturday, claiming that the TMC MP’s parliamentary ID was used in Dubai while she was in India. Dubey claimed that the National Informatics Centre (NIC) has disclosed the information to probe agencies. Without naming Moitra, Dubey tweeted in Hindi that an “MP pawned the country’s security for some money.”

Moitra responded by saying, “Request NIC to please release ALL details of MPs publicly to show they were physically present in place from where IDs were accessed by their PAs & researchers/interns/staff. Don’t use Fake Degree wala for leak, make this public NOW.” She strongly reacted to the issue of national security raised by Dubey, saying, “Unknown FPIs own Adani shares whose origin SEBI cannot find & Adani gets MHA clearance to buy Mumbai airport. This is the real question of National security. Not email ID that every PA & every unchecked intern team of every MP has publicly & accesses at will.”

The complaint

The Lok Sabha’s Ethics Committee is looking into Dubey’s complaint against Moitra and has asked him to appear before it on October 26 for recording “oral evidence”.

In a signed affidavit submitted to the committee, businessman Darshan Hiranandani admitted to using Moitra’s parliamentary login to ask questions targeting Adani. Moitra, whose party has kept quiet on the issue, has remained combative and continued to attack the Adani Group and Dubey, dismissing the allegations against her.

“Adani may use BJP agencies to browbeat competition and buy airports but just try doing it with me,” she had said on October 15 after the allegations surfaced.

“I welcome answering questions to CBI and Ethics Committee (which has an absolute majority of BJP members) if and when they call me. I have neither time nor interest to feed an Adani-directed media circus trial or answer BJP trolls. I am enjoying Durga Puja in Nadia. Shubho Sashthi,” she said on Friday.