“Efforts to Force Withdrawal of My CBI Complaint,” Says Advocate Dehadrai Regarding ‘Cash for Query’ Scandal

In a new development in the alleged ‘Cash for Query’ controversy, Advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai has come forward with claims that there were efforts made to pressure him into retracting his complaint filed with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). These allegations surfaced following BJP MP Nishikant Dubey’s formal complaint to the Parliament Ethics Committee, in which Advocate Dehadrai had presented evidence of TMC MP Mahua Moitra’s alleged involvement in the ‘Cash for Query’ scandal.

In a post on X, Advocate Dehadrai asserted, “An attempt was made yesterday afternoon to coerce me into withdrawing my CBI complaint and the letter sent to Nishikant Dubey, in exchange for Henry (his dog).” He firmly rejected the offer and stated his intent to provide full details to the CBI. His comments appear to be a pointed remark directed at TMC MP Mahua Moitra, against whom the allegations of ‘Cash for Query’ have been made.

Responding to Advocate Dehadrai’s statement, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, who had submitted a complaint to the Parliament Ethics Committee and is scheduled to appear before the panel alongside Dehadrai on October 26, posted on X, “The edifice built on a foundation of sand is crumbling, and your battle is to preserve the integrity of Parliament. This challenging struggle is not against Mahua but to safeguard the spirit of Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar’s Constitution, which represents the voice of the underprivileged and the Parliament that some individuals are attempting to compromise.”

Further aiming his criticism at Mahua Moitra, the BJP MP remarked, “This is not about politics. The MP from the party whose leader wears only a saree and slippers while publicly seeking luxury brands like LV and GUCCI, and then claims to represent Bengali culture. My family has deep roots in Bengal, and I am well-acquainted with Bengali culture. This individual is also casting aspersions on the people of Bengal. There is no room for corruption.”

Previously, businessman Darshan Hiranandani, who was allegedly implicated in the ‘Cash for Query’ scandal, responded with a three-page affidavit. He alleged that Mahua Moitra viewed her attacks on the Adani Group as a path to fame and disclosed that Moitra had shared her Parliament login credentials with him.

In questioning the credibility of Hiranandani’s affidavit, TMC MP Mahua Moitra remarked, “The affidavit is on plain white paper, lacking official letterhead or notarization. Why would one of India’s most respected and educated businessmen sign such a letter on plain paper unless there was undue pressure?”

Moitra went on to dismiss the contents of the affidavit, characterizing it as a farcical creation by someone affiliated with the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) who moonlights as a creative writer in the BJP’s IT cell. She contended that the affidavit lavished praise on Modi and Gautam Adani while attempting to link her to alleged corruption.

Accusing Businessman Hiranandani of being “coerced” into signing the letter, Moitra alleged, “The PMO figuratively held Darshan and his father hostage, forcing them to sign and send this letter within 20 minutes. They were threatened with a complete shutdown of all their businesses, CBI raids, cessation of all government dealings, and immediate suspension of PSU bank financing.”

Previously, Nishikant Dubey, in a letter titled “Re-emergence of nasty ‘Cash for Query’ in Parliament,” had alleged a “serious Breach of Privilege,” “Contempt of the House,” and a “Criminal Offense” under Section 120A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against the Trinamool Congress MP. Dubey claimed that Advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai had provided him with evidence of bribery transactions involving the TMC MP and businessman Darshan Hiranandani.

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