New Delhi: According to sources, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) lodged a money laundering case against Mahua Moitra, a senior leader of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), citing the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) investigation into the cash-for-query scandal.
The Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) case against Mahua Moitra relies on the First Information Report (FIR) initiated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with the cash-for-query irregularities, implicating the former investment banker.
This action ensued shortly after Moitra and businessman Darshan Hiranandani evaded ED summons for interrogation regarding potential violations of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).
Additionally, the CBI conducted a raid on Moitra’s property concerning the cash-for-query matter, prompted by directives from the anti-corruption ombudsman Lokpal, following allegations made by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, which Moitra vehemently denied.
Renowned for her outspokenness and spirited debates, Moitra faced expulsion from the Lok Sabha in December last year following a parliamentary Ethics Committee’s report, which found her culpable of accepting gifts and illegal gratification.
In a recent development, the TMC leader lodged a complaint with the Election Commission, alleging that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was exploiting the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to disrupt her electoral campaign and tarnish her reputation ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. However, she expressed skepticism regarding any action from the poll panel on this matter.
Moitra criticized the Election Commission, asserting that it had forfeited its independence, claiming that commissioners were handpicked by the prime minister and the home minister. She highlighted the expedited selection process of two Election Commissioners within 30 minutes, following Arun Goel’s resignation last month, labeling the entire procedure as a sham. She conveyed these sentiments in an interview with the news agency PTI.
Moitra further emphasized that despite the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) relentless efforts to undermine constitutional democracy, India’s strength and resilience surpass any attempts by fascist forces to dismantle it.
Re-nominated by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) to contest from the Krishnanagar seat, Moitra accused both the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of functioning as “political agents” aligned with the saffron camp’s interests.
Although the cash-for-query controversy led to the premature conclusion of her initial term as a parliamentarian, it unequivocally bolstered her standing within the party, receiving steadfast support from the TMC’s senior leadership and the entire opposition bloc.