The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has launched a preliminary inquiry against Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra based on a referral from the anti-corruption ombudsman Lokpal, according to officials.
This development comes after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey filed a complaint with Lokpal, accusing Moitra of accepting bribes to pose questions in Parliament. The Lok Sabha Ethics Committee is also examining the allegations against her.
The CBI’s preliminary inquiry is the initial step to assess whether the accusations warrant a full-scale investigation. If sufficient evidence is found during this stage, the CBI can escalate it into a First Information Report (FIR).
Dubey’s allegations include Moitra seeking to target the Adani Group and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in her questions, allegedly at the behest of businessman Darshan Hiranandani in exchange for gifts. Moitra has denied any wrongdoing and asserted that she is being targeted for raising questions about the Adani group’s deals.
