Mahua Moitra has right to defend herself if allegations are made against her, observes Delhi HC

The Delhi High Court on Monday verbally observed that Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra would have to be allowed to defend herself if allegations are publicly levelled against her by advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai, Bar and Bench reported.

Justice Prateek Jalan made the observation while hearing a defamation suit filed by Dehadrai, who is Moitra’s estranged partner. The lawyer is seeking Rs 2 crore in damages from the Trinamool Congress leader for allegedly making defamatory statements against him on social media as well as print and electronic media in connection with the cash-for-query case.

Moitra, who represented West Bengal’s Krishnanagar constituency, was expelled from the Lok Sabha in December after Bharatiya Janata Party MP Nishikant Dubey and Dehadrai had accused her of taking bribes from businessman Darshan Hiranandani to ask questions in Parliament.

The Central Bureau of Investigation booked Moitra on March 21, two days after the Lokpal, the anti-corruption ombudsman, directed it to investigate the allegations against her.

On Monday, advocate Raghav Awasthi, representing Dehadrai, told the court that the cash-for-query allegations levelled against Moitra were not meant for the press but were meant as a service to the nation.

Awasthi, referring to interviews given by the Trinamool Congress leader, said that Moitra had used derogatory terms against Dehadrai and had alleged that...

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