Lok Sabha Ethics Committee receives affidavit from Darshan Hiranandani against Mahua Moitra
New Delhi: The Lok Sabha ethics committee announced today that it has received an affidavit from industrialist Darshan Hiranandani, accusing Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra of accepting bribes to ask questions in Parliament. The committee confirmed its intention to conduct a thorough investigation into these allegations.
In his affidavit, Hiranandani alleged that Moitra frequently demanded favors from him, including expensive luxury items, and provided him with her Parliament login credentials. He also claimed that she viewed attacking the Adani Group as a means to gain fame.
The accusations were brought to light by BJP's Nishikant Dubey, who accused the Trinamool leader of breaching parliamentary privilege, contempt of the House, and criminal conspiracy, during a session presided over by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla.
Vinod Sonkar, the head of the ethics committee, confirmed in an exclusive statement to NDTV, "We have received Darshan Hiranandani's affidavit. The committee will hear Mr. Dubey's complaint on October 26. He has been asked to present evidence in front of the committee."
Describing the allegations as extremely grave, Sonkar stated that the committee would thoroughly examine Dubey's letter and Hiranandani's affidavit. The committee also plans to hear Moitra's version, who has vehemently denied the charges and expressed her readiness for any inquiry.
"The allegations are very serious. The case has gone beyond the prima facie evidence which is why we are examining it," Sonkar emphasized.
In response to the accusations, Moitra, the Lok Sabha MP representing Krishnanagar in West Bengal, has sought a permanent injunction against Dubey, Dehadrai, social media platform X, search engine Google, and YouTube. She aims to restrain them from making, publishing, and circulating defamatory, false, and malicious statements against her.
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Trump pauses Project Freedom, claims great progress for final agreement with Iran
Washington (PTI): President Donald Trump has suspended “Project Freedom,” to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, claiming progress in negotiations with Iran toward an agreement to end the war.
In a post on Truth Social on Tuesday, Trump said, “Great progress has been made toward a complete and final agreement with representatives of Iran.”
“Based on the request of Pakistan and other Countries, the tremendous Military Success that we have had during the Campaign against the Country of Iran and, additionally, the fact that Great Progress has been made toward a Complete and Final Agreement with Representatives of Iran, we have mutually agreed that, while the Blockade will remain in full force and effect, Project Freedom (The Movement of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz) will be paused for a short period of time to see whether or not the Agreement can be finalized and signed," Trump said.
Project Freedom was launched on Monday to escort ships, stranded due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, out to safety. Trump had announced the operation on Sunday and the US Central Command began implementing it the next day.
However, the Project led to friction in the vicinity of the narrow seaway, a key route for transporting one-fifth of the global oil supplies, with the UAE claiming that its ships were attacked by Iran. The US also claimed to have destroyed several Iranian small boats.
Trump’s statement on Truth Social came hours after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that Operation Epic Fury, launched on February 28, had concluded as its objectives have been achieved.
"Operation Epic Fury is concluded. We achieved the objectives of that operation. We're not cheering for an additional situation to occur. We would prefer the path of peace. What @POTUS would prefer is a deal... that is, so far, not the route that Iran has chosen," Rubio told a press conference at the White House on Tuesday.
On Project Freedom, Rubio said the goal was to rescue almost 23,000 civilians from 87 different countries who were trapped inside the Persian Gulf and left for dead by the Iranian regime.
"This is not an offensive operation. This is a defensive operation, and what that means is very simple: there’s no shooting unless we're shot at first. We’re not attacking them, but if they're attacking us or they’re attacking a ship, you need to respond to that," Rubio said.
