Bribe for questions charges: HC defers hearing on Moitra's plea

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Friday adjourned hearing on a plea for injunction filed by TMC MP Mahua Moitra against BJP MP Nishikant Dubey and advocate Jai Ananat Dehadrai and other social media platforms to October 31.

Justice Sachin Datta deferred the hearing as senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, who appeared for Moitra, withdrew himself from the case.

During the hearing, Dehadrai appeared in person and claimed Moitra's counsel Sankaranarayanan called him up to persuade him to withdraw the complaint filed with the CBI to get back dog 'Henry'.

The lawyer also claimed he has the phone recording in support of his assertion.

The bench then asked Sankaranarayanan if he was doing the role of mediation then why he should appear for advancing the arguments.

With this, Sankaranarayanan preferred to withdraw himself from the case.

The court then fixed the matter for consideration on October 31.

Moitra has approached the High Court on Tuesday seeking to restrain Dubey, advocate Dehadrai, and several social media platforms and media houses from posting, circulating or publishing any "fake and defamatory" content against her.

Moitra found herself at the centre of a political storm after Dubey complained to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on the basis of an affidavit by Dehadrai that she had allegedly taken bribes from a business house led by Darshan Hiranandani to ask over 50 questions in Parliament with regard to Adani group. The matter has been referred to Ethics Committee for consideration on October 26.

Most of the questions were allegedly targetted against Adani group of companies allegedly at the instance of the said buisness house.

On October 15, Dubey, cited the letter from Dehadrai,  Moitra's estranged friend, to accuse Moitra of "breach of privilege, contempt of the house, and criminal offence". Moitra has denied those allegations.

Dog 'Henry' is alleged to be reason behind souring of relations between Moitra and Dehadrai.

On Thursday, Hiranandani is also reported to have furnished an affidavit stating he had been provided to access to Moitra's Lok Sabha log in details to ask questions, allegedly in exchange of costly gifts and renovation of her house, and travel expenses.

Dubey has also written to Union minister for information technology Ashwini Vaishnaw, urging him to investigate the IP addresses of her log-in credentials for the House.

Dubey had claimed that lawyer Dehadrai had "shared irrefutable evidence of bribes exchanged" between her and Darshan Hiranandani.