TMC MP Mahua Moitra has questioned the credibility of Hiranandani Group CEO Darshan Hiranandani’s affidavit and alleged that it was “drafted by the PMO” and he was forced to sign it with the specter of a “complete shut down” of his household’s companies.
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) pointed a “proverbial gun” to the CEO and his father’s heads and gave them a deadline of 20 minutes to sign the letter, Mahua claimed in her assertion issued late on Thursday night time (October 19).
The assertion got here after Hiranandani, who allegedly bribed Moitra to elevate questions within the Parliament on the Adani Group, claimed in a signed affidavit that the TMC MP focused Gautam Adani to “malign and embarrass” Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He alleged that Moitra supplied him along with her Parliament login and password to ask questions concentrating on Adani.
Moitra’s defence
The TMC MP issued a two-page assertion, and claimed that the draft of the “letter” issued by Hiranandani was “despatched by the PMO and he was forced to sign it”.
“Three days ago (16.10.2023), the Hiranandani Group put out an official press release stating that all charges levelled against them were baseless. Today (19.10.2023), an ‘approver affidavit’ has been leaked to the press. This ‘affidavit’ is on a white piece of paper with no letterhead and there is no official origin aside from a press leak. Why would one of India’s most respected/educated businessman sign a letter like this on white paper unless a gun was put to his head to do it,” she requested.
“The PMO held a proverbial gun to Darshan and his father’s heads and gave them 20 minutes to sign this letter sent to them. They were threatened with a total shut down of all their businesses. His father is in real estate which depends on government licenses…,” she stated.
She stated that although it’s tragic however “totally understandable” that Hiranandani signed the letter.
“Though tragic, it is totally understandable that Darshan (who is a dear friend) would need to think of what is at stake for him here – namely the continuation of his family businesses built up over decades and the fate of thousands of employees – and buckle under pressure and sign this,” she stated.
According to paragraph 12 of the affidavit, the TMC MP stated, Hiranandani gave in to her calls for “because he was fearful of displeasing me”.
TMC MP claims CEO’s hyperlinks with PMO
Hiranandani and his father run certainly one of India’s largest enterprise teams and their current tasks in Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat have been inaugurated by the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh and the prime minister.
The TMC MP stated that Hiranandani additionally accompanied the Prime Minister as a part of his enterprise delegation very just lately.
“Why would such a wealthy successful businessman who enjoys direct access to every Minister and the PMO be coerced by a first-time opposition MP into giving her gifts and giving into her demands? It is totally illogical and only cements the truth that this letter was drafted by the PMO and not Darshan,” she stated.
In his affidavit, Hiranandani claimed Moitra “made frequent demands” together with “expensive luxury items, providing support on renovation of her officially allotted bungalow in Delhi, travel expenses, holidays, etc., apart from providing secretarial and logistical help for her travels within India and to different parts of the world”.
Moitra questioned why did Hiranandani not maintain a press convention or submit it on X himself and who the affidavit was given to.
He has not even been summoned by any investigative company or the Ethics Committee but, she stated.
“If indeed he has ‘confessed’ to this, (then) why is he not releasing it officially rather than through back channel leaks? The truth is exceedingly clear,” she stated.
Moitra additionally slams “jilted ex”
Moitra additionally slammed estranged accomplice and lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai who had accused her of taking bribes, and stated that he’s a “jilted ex” who desires to get again at her.
“This painstaking research on me…He is a jilted ex with an acrimonious personal history with me who wanted to somehow get back at me. If indeed he was witness to all of my corruption, then why was he with me during the time and why did he wait till now to make it public? Also if he wrote to CBI and the LS Speaker, why out of 543 MPs would he forward the letters to Nishikant Dubey, a man who I have repeatedly exposed in Parliament and outside, and against whom I have filed pending privilege motions,” she requested.
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey has accused Moitra of taking bribes from a businessman to ask questions in Parliament and urged Speaker Om Birla to represent an inquiry committee to look into the fees in opposition to her.
Birla has referred Dubey’s criticism to Parliament’s Ethics Committee.
The Delhi High Court is scheduled to hear on Friday Moitra’s petition, filed on october 17, looking for instructions to restrain Dubey, Dehadrai and several other social media platforms and media homes from posting, circulating or publishing any faux and defamatory content material in opposition to her.
(With PTI inputs)
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