‘Gave Darshan Hiranandani My Parliament Login ID And Password': TMC MP Mahua Moitra

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra on Friday (27 October) admitted that she had shared her Parliament login ID and password with businessman Darshan Hiranandani to post questions that she claimed were hers.

During her interview to India Today following the cash-for-query controversy, Moitra explained that the questions she provided on the Parliament website were typed by someone in Darshan Hiranandani's office.

"Someone in Darshan Hiranandani's office typed the question which I gave on the Parliament website. After putting the question, they would call me to inform and I would read all the questions in one go as I am always busy in my constituency. After putting the question, an OTP (one-time password) comes on my mobile phone. I would give that OTP and only then is the question submitted. So, the idea that Darshan would log in to my ID and put in questions of his own is ludicrous," she was quoted as saying by India Today.

She also denied allegations of taking bribes from Hiranandani and demanded that she be given the chance to cross-examine him.

Moitra said that the only things she had received from Darshan Hiranandani, the CEO of the Hiranandani Group, as gifts were "one scarf, some lipsticks, and other makeup items including eye shadow"

Moitra's claim comes days after Darshan Hiranandani issued a "sworn affidavit" saying the TMC MP gave him her Parliament login and password so he could post questions on her behalf.

Moitra defended sharing login credentials with Hiranandani saying she has done that with others too "as she worked from a remote constituency".

"But there is always an OTP and the team would always post my questions," she added.

She also claimed that the NIC that operates government and parliamentary websites had no rules against this.

This was countered by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey in a tweet in which he posted the rules specified by the NIC and a form that every parliamentarian was obligated to fill out. These include instructions to keep the credentials private and confidential.

Dubey also demanded a probe into the attempts that he claimed were being made to influence Hiranandani and if Moitra was in touch with him.

Hiranandani is an approver in this case with his signed affidavit corroborating the charges raised against Ms Moitra by both Dubey and advocate Jai Dehadrai.

Meanwhile, Mahua Moitra has requested additional time to attend the hearing of the Lok Sabha ethics committee, which is probing the allegations against the TMC MP.

The TMC MP mentioned in the letter to panel chief that due to Vijaya Dashami meetings planned from October 30 to November 4, she won't be able to be in Delhi on October 31.

Moitra further said that Hiranandani should also be present before the ethics panel, and provide "verified lists" of all alleged gifts and favours that the TMC MP is claimed to have received from him.