The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday carried out searches on the premises of former TMC MP Mahua Moitra in various locations, including Kolkata, in connection with the purported cash-for-query case, as per officials.
Teams from the central probe agency arrived at Moitra’s residence in Kolkata and other cities early on Saturday, apprised her of the search proceedings, and initiated the operation, officials stated.
On Thursday, the CBI lodged an FIR against the former Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP following directives from the Lokpal, which mandated the agency to submit a report within six months, officials mentioned.
Moitra faced expulsion from the Lok Sabha in December due to “unethical conduct.” She has contested her expulsion in the Supreme Court and is set to participate once again in the upcoming general elections as a TMC candidate from the Krishnanagar constituency in West Bengal.
The Lokpal, serving as the anti-corruption ombudsman, instructed the CBI to take action after receiving the findings of its preliminary inquiry into allegations leveled against Moitra by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey.
Dubey, a Lok Sabha member, accused Moitra of soliciting cash and gifts from Dubai-based businessman Darshan Hiranandani in exchange for posing questions in the House aimed at criticizing industrialist Gautam Adani and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, among others.