SC to Deliberate on Mahua Moitra's Lok Sabha Expulsion Challenge Today

The Supreme Court of India is set to hear a plea by Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra challenging her expulsion from the Lok Sabha over allegations of unethical conduct, including the acceptance of gifts and illegal gratification from businessman Darshan Hiranandani. The controversy arose after BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, based on a complaint by Supreme Court lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai, alleged that Moitra had accepted money and favors in exchange for asking questions in Parliament. Additionally, Dehadrai has accused Moitra of using his phone number to track his location, and Home Minister Amit Shah has alleged that Moitra gave her Parliament portal password to businesspeople in exchange for gifts.

The bench hearing the case, consisting of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Dipankar Datta, has refused to grant interim relief to Moitra, directing that the Lok Sabha Secretariat respond within two weeks, with a rejoinder to be filed three weeks thereafter. The court also indicated that one of the issues under consideration would be its jurisdiction to review the actions of the Lok Sabha. The case is scheduled to be heard in the week commencing March 11, 2024.