Today, the Delhi High Court dismissed a petition brought forth by Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mahua Moitra aimed at prohibiting Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey and advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai from levelling accusations suggesting that Moitra received bribes from businessman Darshan Hiranandani in exchange for posing questions in Parliament.

Justice Sachin Datta rejected the interim relief application filed by Moitra.

The verdict in the case was reserved by the court on December 20. Following allegations made by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey and advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai, claiming that Mahua Moitra, a former MP, engaged in questionable practices, Moitra initiated a defamation lawsuit against them. The allegations included assertions that Moitra exchanged parliamentary questions and granted access to her parliamentary account to businessman Darshan Hiranandani in exchange for favors and lavish gifts.

Following these allegations, the Lok Sabha Ethics Committee recommended the expulsion of Mahua Moitra from the lower house of Parliament. Consequently, Moitra was expelled from Parliament on December 8, 2023.

Moitra has vehemently denied the allegations, asserting that Darshan Hiranandani is simply a friend and that there has been no exchange of favors between them. She has labeled the accusations as part of a political vendetta.

In contrast, Dehadrai and Dubey maintain that Moitra granted full access to her online Lok Sabha account to Hiranandani, enabling him to submit parliamentary questions according to his preferences.