Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mahua Moitra has taken her recent expulsion from the Lok Sabha to the Supreme Court, challenging the decision made by the parliament. On December 8, the Lok Sabha voted to expel Moitra following a recommendation from an Ethics Committee to disqualify her as a Member of Parliament (MP).
The Ethics Committee's recommendation stemmed from a complaint lodged by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey, accusing Moitra of accepting cash in exchange for raising specific questions in parliament. Allegations pointed towards Moitra posing inquiries about the Adani group of companies purportedly at the request of a competing businessman, Darshan Hiranandani. Additionally, Moitra was accused of sharing her Lok Sabha log-in credentials with Hiranandani.
The Ethics Committee conducted an investigation and concluded that Moitra's actions warranted severe punishment due to what they deemed as "highly objectionable, unethical, heinous, and criminal conduct." Their recommendation to expel Moitra from the 17th Lok Sabha was based on these findings. They further urged the Government of India to conduct a comprehensive, time-bound inquiry into Moitra's conduct.
Moitra's petition before the Supreme Court challenges this decision, disputing the grounds on which the Ethics Committee based its recommendation. The expelled TMC leader seeks legal redress, contesting the severity of the allegations and the subsequent punitive action taken against her.
