Mahua Moitra writes to Lok Sabha ethics panel head, says cannot appear on October 31

Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra has written to the Ethics Committee of the Lok Sabha stating that she cannot appear before it on October 31 in connection with cash-for-query allegations due to prior engagements and will be available only after November 5.

In a letter to panel chairperson Vinod Kumar Sonkar, she said, "I look very much forward to appearing before the Committee at any date chosen by you after November 5, 2023." Moitra, in a post on X a day after Sonkar announced that she has been summoned on October 31, said she eagerly look forward to physically attending and presenting her defence against the slanderous charges but is busy till November 4 on account of Durga Puja celebrations going on in West Bengal.

"Chairman, Ethics Comm announced my 31/10 summons on live TV way before official letter emailed to me at 19:20 hrs. All complaints & suo moto affidavits also released to media. I look forward to deposing immediately after my pre-scheduled constituency programmes end on Nov 4," she said in the post.

The panel on Thursday recorded the statements of advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai and BJP MP Nishikant Dubey in the matter and also decided to call Moitra on October 31.