Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra. File
| Photo Credit: PTI

SEBI chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch speaks during the Global Fintech Fest in Mumbai on August 29, 2024.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Anti-corruption ombudsman Lokpal has called SEBI chief Madhabi Puri Buch and also complainants, including Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, for an “oral hearing” next month in connection with corruption complaints being heard by it, alleging impropriety and conflict of interest on the basis of a Hindenburg Research report, according to an official order.

The Lokpal on November 8 sought Ms. Buch’s “explanation” on the complaints filed by Ms. Moitra, a Lok Sabha member, and two others.

Ms. Buch, the chairperson of capital markets regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), was asked to submit her response within four weeks.

Hearing the case, the Lokpal said the named RPS (respondent public servant) “has filed her response by way of affidavit sworn on 07.12.2024 in time, raising preliminary issues as well as giving explanation allegation-wise”.

“Further, we deem it appropriate that the RPS as well as the complainants can be given opportunity of oral hearing to clarify their positions taken in the complaints or the affidavit, as the case may be,” says the December 19 order signed by Lokpal chairperson Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and five other members.

Accordingly, the Lokpal has asked the registry to issue notices to the RPS as well as the complainant(s) to avail of the opportunity of oral hearing on January 28.

“It will be open to the RPS as well as the complainant to authorise an advocate to espouse their cause, if they so desire at the time of oral hearing,” the order said.

The Lokpal said “it is appropriate and in the interest of justice that the complainants are provided a copy of the affidavit and documents filed by the RPS by way of response to the respective complainants and the supplementary affidavits”.

The anti-graft ombudsman asked its registry to forward a copy of Ms. Buch’s affidavit and its accompaniments to the complainants in respective complaints.

“The complainants, however, shall ensure that confidentiality of the process and the contents of the affidavit is maintained…,” the order said.

SEBI chief Buch and the complainants, “if (they) wish to rely on any reported decisions must file compilation(s) of such decisions duly paginated, well in advance and not later than 18.01.2025”, it said and listed the matter for 11:30 am on January 28.

In an order dated September 20, the Lokpal had said the complaint by the parliamentarian, alleging impropriety and conflict of interest by the SEBI chief, “falls short” of persuading it to order any probe.

The anti-corruption ombudsman’s observation came while hearing two complaints, including one by the Trinamool MP, filed on the basis of a report by the U.S.-based “activist short-seller”.

In its report, U.S.-based Hindenburg Research alleged that Ms. Buch and her husband had stakes in obscure offshore funds used in the alleged money siphoning scandal involving the Adani Group.

They denied the allegations, saying the short-seller was attacking the capital markets regulator’s credibility and attempting a character assassination.

The Adani Group had also termed Hindenburg Research’s allegations malicious and manipulation of selective public information.

In a post on social media platform X, Trinamool MP Moitra on September 13 said she had filed a complaint against the SEBI chief with the Lokpal and asserted that the anti-graft ombudsman should forward it to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) or the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for preliminary probe followed by a “full FIR enquiry”.

Without mentioning the name of the complainant, the Lokpal in its September 20 order had also sought details “regarding the efforts made by the respective complainant to verify the authenticity and credibility of the claims in the recent report of Hindenburg Research published on August 10, 2024”.

The matter was then posted for hearing on October 17 and later on November 8. A third complaint was also filed on October 14 by “yet another complainant, once again raising the same issues”, according to the Lokpal’s order of November 8.

New Delhi:

TMC MP Mahua Moitra accused the BJP-led Centre on Friday of “bleeding the Constitution from a thousand cuts” and said it is crystal clear that the political executive has “systematically eroded democracy” over the last 10 years.

Participating in a debate in the Lok Sabha on 75 years of the Constitution, Moitra asserted that the need of the hour is to ensure that the idea of India survives in its purest form.

For a significant part of her speech, the Trinamool Congress MP trained her guns on former chief justice of India D Y Chandrachud, without naming him, and said what troubles the opposition is that some members of the higher judiciary appear to be doing their best to compromise the independence and integrity of the country’s constitutional courts.

“The outgoing CJI waxed eloquent on how the right to bail has been granted during his tenure…. From A for Arnab to Z for Zubair, his alphabets (sic) seem to be abbreviated because it did not include G for Gulfisha Fatima, did not include H for Haney Babu, did not include K for Khalid Saifi, did not include S for Sharjeel Imam, U for Umar Khalid and countless others,” she said.

Moitra said the former CJI made it a point to state that the Supreme Court is not meant to act like a political opposition. “We in the opposition do not need the Supreme Court to do our job. We are not asking it to (do so) but what troubles us is that some members of the higher judiciary appear to be doing their best to compromise the independence and integrity of our constitutional courts,” she said.

Moitra also apparently criticised Chandrachud for hosting Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence during the Ganapati festival.

“I do not think the framers of our Constitution ever imagined a scenario where judges would rely on private conversations with the god to write judgments rather than on objective logic, on reasoning, on law and on the Constitution,” the TMC MP said.

In a message to the CJIs of the past and present, she said, “Yours is not to worry about your personal legacy, yours is not to take directions from the god, yours is not to have a private family function turned into a televised circus with a political executive. The Constitution is your only god, the Constitution should be the only ‘atithi’ (guest) that should be at your home as your ‘deva’ (god). Attention-seeking divas do not leave legacies, upholders of our basic sovereign rights will only be remembered.” Moitra claimed that a large number of people feel that the Constitution is in “danger” and asserted that as responsible public representatives, it is imperative that it is put to test and checked if this is fearmongering.

Citing a professor’s three broad tests to check if the political executive is constitutionally accountable, she said the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) cannot usurp power in a way that takes away the rights of others.

“This ruling party, when confronted with this charge, uses only one defence — what about Mrs (Indira) Gandhi’s Emergency? Yes, that was a full-frontal attack on democracy, no questions about that, but we saw it for what it was. This government’s modus operandi has been indirect and creeping, an incremental and systemic assault for the past 10 years,” she said.

The TMC MP alleged that the Modi government has consistently sought to erase the distinction between the ruling party and the State by undermining and capturing all the mechanisms that seek executive accountability. “It is killing our Constitution by a thousand cuts.” Moitra flagged electoral malpractices, such as voter disenfranchisement and biased campaign finance, giving the ruling party an unfair advantage.

Voter disenfranchisement has reached epic proportions in India, she claimed. Another aspect is the largely-targeted exclusion of a “hated minority” by a prejudiced majoritarian State, creating a whole section of second-class citizens whose rights are less equal than others, Moitra said.

This government brought a “discriminatory” Citizenship (Amendment) Act that is openly violative of the right to equality before law, she added.

Hitting out at the BJP-ruled states, Moitra said these governments are competing with each other in “bulldozer justice”, demolishing homes, usually of minorities, without due process of law.

Moitra also attacked the BJP government over the abrogation of the provisions of Article 370 of the Constitution in Jammu and Kashmir and said the right to free speech of the people of the region has been suppressed.

She also dubbed probe agencies, such as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), as “extortionist departments” of the government.

“In a cooked-up case against me, the CBI is wasting precious time looking for a scarf and lipstick that a friend gave me,” she said.

On the independence of the Election Commission, Moitra said, “Since this government has come in, two ECs have inexplicably quit before their terms ended.” Other institutional bodies have also been severely compromised, Moitra added.

“It is crystal clear that this political executive, for the last 10 years, has systematically eroded democracy. It fails spectacularly on all three tests of constitutional accountability. Our Constitution is bleeding from a thousand cuts,” she said.

Moitra also read out poems by Hilal Fareed and Faiz Ahmed Faiz to take a swipe at the Modi government. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra’s reference to the death of a judicial officer triggered an uproar in the Lok Sabha on Friday with Union minister Kiren Rijiju accusing her of raising a matter settled by the Supreme Court and warning her of “appropriate parliamentary action”.

Participating in a debate on 75 years of the Indian Constitution, Ms Moitra made passing but contentious remarks on the death of the judicial officer.

The House was adjourned briefly twice due to the uproar over the matter and the debate resumed after Speaker Om Birla said he has asked her to authenticate her claims. He also assured opposition members that he will look into their reservations against Mr Rijiju’s “threatening” language against a woman MP.

BJP member Nishikant Dubey first raised the issue after Ms Moitra finished her speech.

Mr Dubey accused Ms Moitra of making an insinuation about the judicial officer’s death.

Later in a post on X, Ms Moitra said all those reporting that “Parliament Affairs Minister warned me – it is he who will face action for threatening me! His remarks to be deleted- not mine!” Mr Rijiju said the case of the judicial officer’s death is settled and the TMC MP’s remarks were very serious. There is no question of any link or interference, he added.

“We will take appropriate parliamentary action. You cannot escape. You are setting a very wrong precedent,” the parliamentary affairs minister said.

Otherwise, any member will make similar allegations, he added.

When the House reconvened after two adjournments, senior opposition members, Saugata Roy of the TMC and K C Venugopal of the Congress, protested against Rijiju’s choice of words, emphasising that it is the Speaker who is the custodian of the Lok Sabha.

Both the MPs said the ruling party could have resorted to appropriate rules to seek action if they had an issue with Ms Moitra’s speech.

Addressing Speaker Birla, Mr Venugopal said, “You are the custodian. You have the powers to delete, expunge… The parliamentary affairs minister took the entire custody of the House and he virtually threatened the lady member.” Mr Venugopal said the minister’s responsibility is to maintain peace in the House but he instead “threatened” and intimidated a woman member. He demanded that Rijiju apologise or his remarks be expunged.

Mr Roy accused Mr Rijiju of making a “brazen effort” to threaten Moitra.

The Speaker lamented members engaging in personal allegations and counter-allegations, and asked them to have a constructive debate over issues related to the Constitution.

Om Birla said he has asked Ms Moitra to authenticate her remarks. He said he will look into what the minister has said and will delete, if needed.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has moved the Supreme Court against the directives by the Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand governments that eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route must display the names of their owners.

In her plea before the top court, Ms Moitra has sought a stay on the orders passed by the two state governments saying such directives aggravate discord between communities.

The plea is yet to be listed for hearing.

The TMC leader said by forcing the disclosure of the names of proprietors and even those of their staff, on the stated ground of respecting pilgrims’ dietary choices, “makes it clear that dietary choices is a pretext, or a proxy, for the compelled disclosure of personal — and, in this case, religious — identity”, the plea said.

The plea alleged that this has been done to create a socially-enforced economic boycott on Muslim shop owners and workers, and the loss of their livelihoods.

“Since June 2023, the Respondent No. 1 (State of UP) continued to empower and embolden the anti-social elements by actively targeting Muslim owned businesses based on fabricated and malicious information circulated by the anti-social elements.

“The Respondent No. 1, through acts of commission and omission, created conditions for the complete economic boycott of Muslim minorities on the pretext of their ‘impure’ dietary choices,” the petition said.

On Monday, the Supreme COURT is scheduled to hear a plea against the Uttar Pradesh government’s controversial order. A bench of justices Hrishikesh Roy and S V N Bhatti is likely to hear the plea filed by NGO Association of Protection of Civil Rights.

Meanwhile, extensive arrangements have been made across several states for the Kanwar Yatra that starts on Monday with the beginning of the Sawan month of the Hindu calendar during which lakhs of Shiva devotees carry holy water from the Ganges in Haridwar to their homes while offering it at Shiva temples on their way.

Days after the Muzaffarnagar police asked all eateries along the Kanwar Yatra route to display their owners’ names, the Uttar Pradesh government on Friday extended the controversial order across the state.

The order issued by the Muzaffarnagar police earlier this week has been slammed by opposition parties and some members of the ruling NDA at the Centre, who say it targets Muslim traders.

Authorities in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand on Sunday said they have made special arrangements to ensure a smooth yatra and extensive security measures are in place.

Spanning from July 22 to August 19, this special period for the worship of Lord Shiva will include five Mondays. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

The National Commission for Women (NCW) on Friday said it has initiated legal action against Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra for her remarks against its chairperson Rekha Sharma.

This came a day after the TMC, commenting on a video posted on X showing the NCW chairperson’s arrival at the site of a stampede that recently took place in Uttar Pradesh’s Hathras, wrote, “She is too busy holding up her boss’s pajamas”.

The NCW in a statement said that a formal complaint has been filed with the Delhi Police and a letter has been sent to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla at the Parliament stating that Ms Moitra’s remarks are condemnable in strongest possible words and being a Member of Parliament, it is unbecoming of her stature.

Reacting to the same, Ms Moitra took a jibe at the NCW and posted on X, “Come on @DelhiPolice please take action immediately on these suo moto orders. Am in Nadia in case you need me in the next 3 days to make a quick arrest. I Can Hold My Own Umbrella”.

In the letter to Mr Birla, the NCW has urged the speaker of the Lok Sabha to look into the matter and take appropriate action against Ms Moitra.

“These crude remarks are not only outrageous but also a severe violation of a woman’s right to dignity,” the NCW said.

While in the letter to the Delhi police, the NCW said upon careful consideration, the Commission said it has has determined that Ms Moitra’s remarks fall under Section 79 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, 2023.

The NCW demanded registration of FIR against Ms Moitra. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Delhi High Court on Wednesday said allegations of conspiring against the prime minister amount to treason and cannot be levelled irresponsibly without any cogent material.

The court was hearing a lawsuit by BJD MP Pinaki Misra against lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai over his allegedly defamatory tweets and statements, including that the lawmaker — along with expelled TMC MP Mahua Moitra — conspired against the prime minister.

Justice Jasmeet Singh observed that while a politician cannot be “sensitive”, Dehadrai should await the outcome of his complaint to the authorities and cannot be “trigger happy”.

Ms Moitra was expelled from the Lok Sabha on December 8 following accusations by Mr Dehadrai, her former partner, that she took bribes from businessman and Hiranandani Group CEO Darshan Hiranandani to ask questions in Parliament.

“When you say conspiracy against the prime minister, it is troublesome. You can’t be trigger happy … Conspiracy against the prime minister is an offence against the state, (it is) treason,” the court said during the hearing.

“It has serious repercussions on the general public … Wait for the investigation (to conclude) before you say all this,” it added.

Mr Dehadrai and his counsel assured the court that he would not make further statements in relation to Misra “conspiring” against the prime minister till the next date of hearing.

“Mr (Raghav) Awasthi, who appears for the defendant, assures the court that no allegation of the plaintiff being involved in any conspiracy against the prime minister will be made till the next date of hearing,” the court recorded.

It added that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is already looking into the allegations and the dispute between Mr Dehadrai and Ms Moitra is also pending before the high court.

“Prima facie the allegation of conspiring against the prime minister is a serious allegation. The same tantamount to treason. The allegation of conspiring against the prime minister cannot be made irresponsibly and needs to be based on cogent and substantive reasons,” the court said.

Taking the statement of the defendant on record, the court issued notices on the lawsuit to Mr Dehadrai and two media houses, and listed it for further hearing in July.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Kolkata:

Exuding confidence in securing her Krishnanagar Lok Sabha seat with a bigger margin, senior TMC leader Mahua Moitra feels that her victory would be a fitting response to the “conspiracy” to expel her from Lok Sabha last year and tarnish her reputation through raids and summons by central agencies in a cash-for-query case.

She asserted that despite all efforts by the BJP to “sound the death knell” for constitutional democracy, India is too great a country to be destroyed by the fascists.

Ms Moitra, who was re-nominated by the TMC from the same Krishnanagar seat after being expelled last year, accused the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of acting as “political agents of the saffron camp”.

In an interview with PTI, Ms Moitra said the Election Commission has “lost its independence” since commissioners are handpicked by a selection committee where the Centre has two-thirds majority.

“There is no doubt about my victory. It is about how big the margin will be, which will be decided on June 4. I live here and have been among my people for the past five years and even before that as an MLA. So there is a very strong connection, and frankly, there is no election mode as such here,” she said.

She won by a margin of over 60,000 votes in the 2019 elections, bagging 45 per cent of the total votes polled.

“My victory would be a fitting response to the conspiracy to expel me and tarnish my reputation,” the 49-year-old politician said.

Ms Moitra, known for her outspokenness and fiery debates in the Lok Sabha, was expelled from the Lower House in December last year after a parliamentary Ethics Committee’s report held her accountable for accepting gifts and illegal gratification.

The former investment banker with JP Morgan Chase, who had dubbed the expulsion recommendation by the Ethics committee as a “prefixed match by a kangaroo court”, claimed the BJP has been trying to destroy democracy in the country.

“I have been saying this since my first speech in Parliament. The BJP is sounding the death knell for India as a constitutional democracy… But India is too great a nation to be destroyed by these fascist thugs,” she said.

Asked why the people of her constituency would believe her side of the story instead of the version propagated by the BJP, Ms Moitra said she is the daughter of the soil.

“This is my Karmabhoomi and my Dharmabhoomi. My people will back me 100 per cent,” she said.

While the cash-for-query controversy brought an abrupt end to her first term as a parliamentarian, it undeniably enhanced her stature within the party, with unwavering support from the TMC top leadership and the entire opposition.

Speaking about the CBI raids at her premises and summons by the Enforcement Directorate, which she has skipped, Ms Moitra alleged those agencies are an integral part of the BJP.

The CBI conducted a raid on her property regarding the cash-for-query case, prompted by the anti-corruption ombudsman Lokpal’s directive following allegations from BJP MP Nishikant Dubey, which she rejected.

Additionally, the Enforcement Directorate has issued fresh summons to her and businessman Darshan Hiranandani for questioning in a case involving contravention of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).

Ms Moitra recently complained to the EC, alleging that the BJP was employing the CBI and the ED to disrupt her campaign and tarnish her image before the elections, although she expressed scepticism about the poll panel taking any action on the matter.

“The EC itself now has lost its independence. The commissioners are handpicked by the two-thirds majority of the prime minister and the home minister. Within 30 minutes, 200 names were given to choose (two Election Commissioners after the resignation of Arun Goel last month). The entire exercise is a farce,” she said.

The former MLA from Karimpur seat in the West Bengal Assembly said opposition leaders and political parties still write to the EC, as “we need to write and record it for history, and that is also important”.

Asked if re-elected, whether she would continue with the same zeal in attacking the saffron party on policy issues, Ms Moitra shot back, “What do you think… I will get back to my seat and sing paeans to the BJP?” Ms Moitra had repeatedly questioned the Centre’s involvement in the expansion of assets of a private conglomerate and had moved multiple lawsuits in the Supreme Court challenging various policies made by the Narendra Modi government.

On whether it is possible to defeat the BJP-led NDA, as the opposition bloc INDIA is not finding enough traction in most of the states, Ms Moitra said, “The people are the ultimate decision-makers. I have faith in the people. It may be delayed but it will happen.” The TMC leader said implementation of CAA rules will not have much impact in her constituency, which has a considerable Matua population.

“The Matua population is in higher numbers in the neighbouring seat of Ranaghat. Here we have a small percentage. But yes, Matua organisations themselves are telling their members not to apply for CAA and mark themselves as illegal foreigners, given they have enjoyed all state benefits for the past years,” she said.

Ms Moitra was referring to All India Matua Mahasangha’s directive that has advised its members to abstain from submitting citizenship applications due to a lack of necessary documents proving their previous residential address in Bangladesh.

When asked about her opinion on her opponent from the saffron camp, ‘Rajmata’ Amrita Roy of the Krishnanagar Royal family, she said the candidate is of no consequence to her.

“My fight is against the BJP symbol. I am least bothered about who they have put up. June 4 will show the results,” she said. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Krishananagar:

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday mocked the BJP’s target of winning 400-plus seats in the Lok Sabha polls and challenged the saffron camp to win at least 200 constituencies.

Ms Banerjee also asserted that she won’t allow the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act in the state.

She cautioned people that applying for CAA would turn an applicant into a foreigner and urged them not to apply for it.

“The BJP is saying “400 paar”, I challenge them to cross the 200 seats benchmark first. In 2021 assembly polls, they gave a call of 200 plus seats but had to stop at 77,” she said.

“The CAA is a trap to turn legal citizens into foreigners. We would allow neither CAA nor NRC in West Bengal,” she said while addressing her first rally in the election season after her injury earlier this month.

Ms Banerjee, the TMC supremo, slammed the opposition bloc INDIA partners — CPI(M) and Congress — for “joining hands with the BJP” in West Bengal.

“There is no INDIA alliance in West Bengal. The CPI(M) and Congress are working for the BJP in Bengal,” she said while addressing an election rally at Krishnanagar in support of TMC candidate Mahua Moitra.

“Our MP Mahua Moitra was maligned and expelled from the Lok Sabha as she was vocal against the BJP,” she added. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Amrita Roy, the erstwhile royal of Bengal’s Krishnagar who will take on Trinamool Congress’s Mahua Moitra, told NDTV today that given the law and order situation in the state, she thought she had a role to play.

Citing the recent allegations of land grab and sexual harassment emanating from Sandeshkhali against Trinammol Congress strongman Sheikh Shahjahan, she told NDTV in an exclusive interview that such events happen every other day.

“Some things are coming out. Other things are being kept under wraps… So I feel that I have a big role to play… this cannot go on,” she told NDTV.

“People are scared to come out or talk… in case they get a bad name. They are being deprived of their fundamental right,” she added.

The idea of contesting, though, was of the BJP, which had approached her, she told NDTV. She said though she had been apolitical all her life, she had accepted “since it was a good platform”.

The BJP, which is hoping to win at least 25 of the state’s 42 seats, is focusing on woman power this time.

With Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress said to be backed by the state’s women, the BJP is hoping its women candidates would help it expand its footprint in the state.

Ms Roy is facing Mahua Moitra, the sitting MP from Trinamool till she was disqualified by a Parliamentary Ethics Committee over the alleged cash-for questions controversy earlier this year.

In a huge show of support for Ms Moitra, the party has fielded her from Krishnanagar again, expressing confidence that she would be re-elected.

Asked about senior BJP leader Dilip Ghosh’s remarks about Mamata Banerjee — over which he has received a showcause notice from the Election Commission —  Ms Roy said,  “In politics, many things can be misinterpreted. You should be a little cautious,” she said.

“Didi goes to Goa and says, ‘I am Goa’s daughter’… goes to Tripura and says, ‘Am Tripura’s daughter’. Decide who your father is. It is not good to be just anybody’s daughter,” Dilip Ghosh had said – words that have even been slammed by his own party.