Drawing attention to the recent ‘bribe-for-questions’ allegation against Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, the Adani Group has said that some groups are making a concerted effort to malign the group’s reputation.
In a statement, the Adani Group said, “…some groups and individuals have been working overtime to harm our name, goodwill and market standing”.
An Adani Group spokesperson has pointed out that a Supreme Court lawyer filed a complaint with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), submitting a sworn affidavit described as “the commission of an elaborate criminal conspiracy”.
Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra and Darshan Hiranandani, the CEO of the Hiranandani Group, are linked to the allegations.
The complaint claims that Moitra and Hiranandani hatched a plot to target Adani and his conglomerate of companies through a series of parliamentary questions.
The Hiranandani Group has shot down allegations of bribing the TMC MP.
The Adani Group has said that another MP forwarded the complaint to the Lok Sabha Speaker, calling for an investigation against Moitra and her suspension from the House.
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey has demanded the formation of an inquiry committee against Trinamool Congress Ms Moitra.
Dubey said, “Bribes were exchanged between Ms. Moitra and a businessman to ask questions in Parliament in exchange for cash and gifts”.
He also claimed that out of the 61 questions she posed in the Lok Sabha, 50 were directed at the Adani Group, accused of unlawful transactions by the TMC MP.
“The development corroborates our statement on 9 October, 2023 that some groups and individuals have been working overtime to harm our name, goodwill and market standing. In this particular case, a lawyer’s complaint reveals that this arrangement to besmirch the reputation and interests of the Adani Group and our chairman Gautam Adani has been in place since 2018,” the Adani Group spokesperson said.
Union Minister of State for Information Technology, Rajeev Chandrashekhar, was quoted as saying by The Hindu, “If true, this is indeed shocking and shameful.”
The Hindu has also reported that several opposition leaders have supported Ms. Moitra. It’s been highlighted that Mr Dehadrai, Ms Moitra’s estranged partner, has feuded with the Trinamool leader over the custody of their pet dog. Ms Moitra had filed police complaints against him for alleged criminal trespass, theft, vulgar messages, and abuse. Trinamool sources, the paper said, called the entire episode a personal vendetta being used for political revenge.
