The Lok Sabha Ethics Committee, a 15-member committee headed by BJP MP Vinod Sonkar, is scheduled to meet on October 26 to decide on whether to summon Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra in connection with the 'cash for query' row.
The committee has summoned BJP MP Nishikant Dubey and Supreme Court lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai to appear before it on October 26 to provide evidence to support their allegations against Moitra.
Dubey has alleged that Moitra took bribes from businessman Darshan Hiranandani to ask questions in Parliament, particularly about the Adani Group - a rival of real-estate conglomerate Hiranandani Group.
Moitra has denied the allegations, calling them "baseless" and "defamatory." She has also accused Hiranandani of being a "BJP stooge" and trying to malign her reputation.
If the committee finds Moitra guilty of the allegations against her, it can recommend that she be suspended from Parliament or even expelled.
The 'cash for query' row has raised serious questions about the integrity of Parliament and the role of money in politics. It has also put the TMC government in West Bengal under the scanner.
The TMC has defended Moitra, saying that she is a "victim of a political conspiracy." The party has also accused the BJP of trying to tarnish the image of the TMC and its leaders.
The 'cash for query' row is likely to have a significant impact on Indian politics. It is a case that is being watched closely by both the opposition and the ruling party.
What will the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee decide?
The Lok Sabha Ethics Committee is a powerful body, and its decisions have a significant impact on the careers of politicians. The committee has the power to recommend that a politician be suspended from Parliament or even expelled.
In the case of Mahua Moitra, the committee will have to decide whether to summon her based on the evidence presented by Nishikant Dubey and Jai Anant Dehadrai. If the committee finds that the evidence is credible, it may summon Moitra to appear before it and answer the allegations against her.
If Moitra is summoned by the committee, she will have the opportunity to defend herself against the allegations. The committee will then make a decision on whether to find her guilty or not guilty. If Moitra is found guilty, the committee may recommend that she be suspended from Parliament or even expelled.
However, it is important to note that the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee is a quasi-judicial body. This means that its decisions can be challenged in court. If Moitra is found guilty by the committee, she may challenge the committee's decision in court.
The Lok Sabha Ethics Committee's decision on whether to summon Mahua Moitra is likely to be a closely watched one. The committee's decision will have a significant impact on Moitra's political career, as well as on the reputation of Parliament.