The Delhi High Court rejected a petition by Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mahua Moitra, seeking to restrain Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey and advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai from making allegations. They claimed that Moitra accepted bribes from businessman Darshan Hiranandani to ask questions in parliament.
Justice Sachin Datta dismissed Moitra’s interim relief application, stating, “I have dismissed the injunction application.” The verdict was reserved on December 20.
Moitra had sued Dubey and Dehadrai for defamation, denying the allegations. The Lok Sabha Ethics Committee had recommended Moitra’s removal, leading to her expulsion from parliament on December 8, 2023.
Moitra maintained that Hiranandani is her friend and there was no quid pro quo, alleging the accusations were part of a political vendetta. Conversely, Dehadrai and Dubey claimed Moitra gave Hiranandani access to her online Lok Sabha account, allowing him to post questions, with 50 of the 61 questions attributed to him.