Moitra was disqualified and expelled from the
Lok Sabha on 8 December 2023 following recommendation of Lok Sabha Ethics Committee for sharing her login and password of NIC portal.[5]
Moitra served as a member of the
West Bengal Legislative Assembly representing
Karimpur from 2016 to 2019,[6] and served as the general secretary and national spokesperson of the AITC. On 13 November 2023, Moitra was appointed as
AITC District President of
Krishnanagar (Nadia North). She was an investment banker at
JPMorgan Chase before entering politics.[7]
In January 2020,
Zee media filed a
defamatory lawsuit against Moitra for apparently making derogatory statements against the channel while addressing reporters. She was granted bail and put on trial by a Delhi Court.[22] She later won the case and the charges against her were dismissed.[23]
Controversy
Political issues
On 26 June 2019, Moitra pointed out "seven early signs of
fascism",[24] which she said were present in India under
Narendra Modi's government.[25] She said that constitution on which every
MP had sworn to protect was under threat. In December 2020, she called the press "2
paisa" after which the
local news media criticised her heavily and decided to
boycott her.[26] Her party distanced itself from her comments.[27][28]
Criticising the judiciary and the current government in the parliament on 8 February 2021, Moitra stated "The sacred cow that was the judiciary is no longer sacred, It stopped being sacred the day a
sitting chief justice of this country was accused of sexual harassment, presided over his own trial, cleared himself and then proceeded to accept the nomination to the upper house within three months of retirement, replete with
Z+ security cover". The speech caused an uproar in the house with members of the ruling party calling it 'objectionable' and violating parliamentary rules because it mentioned a person in "high authority". Opposition members supported the speech as it was based on facts which are matters of
public record.[29][30][31]
The remarks were finally expunged from the records. On 11 February 2021, BJP leaders Nishikant Dubey and PP Chowdhary moved a privilege notice against Moitra.[32]
On 7 April 2022, Moitra argued in the parliament that the Criminal Procedure (Identification) Bill, 2022 is even more intrusive than colonial surveillance laws in India.[33]
'Kaali' controversy
On 5 July 2022 at the India Today Conclave East, while reacting to a film poster showing goddess
Kali smoking a cigarette, Moitra said, "Kaali to me is a meat-eating, alcohol-accepting goddess. You have the freedom to imagine your goddess. There are some places where whiskey is offered to gods and in some other places it would be blasphemy."[34] Distancing itself from the controversy, her party
All India Trinamool Congress issued a statement — "Her views expressed on Goddess Kali have been made in her personal capacity and are not endorsed by the party in any manner or form", condemning Moitra's remarks.[35][36] Subsequently, police complaints were filed against Moitra by the
Bengal BJP in
Kolkata and five districts of
West Bengal, as well as in
Bhopal,
Madhya Pradesh.[37][38]
'Cash for Query' and expulsion from the parliament
On 14 October 2023,
Supreme Court advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai sent a complaint to
CBI with an FIR alleging Moitra of corruption and money laundering. A copy was submitted to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha as well who forwarded the matter to the Ethics Committee of the parliament. Dehadrai accuses that Moitra received money and favours from
Darshan Hiranandani, head of a rival conglomerate of
Adani Group, to ask parliamentary questions targeting Adani.[39] On 19 October 2023, Hiranandani turned
approver, and in an affidavit claimed that Moitra indeed received favours, and also gave him access to her account on parliament of India's website to directly post questions on her behalf.[40][41]
Later in October, Moitra said that she had indeed given her parliamentary login credentials to Hiranandani "for typing questions",[43] and also accepted receiving gifts such as scarfs, lipstick, etc., but as a "personal friend".[44][45]
On 9 November 2023 the parliamentary ethics panel recommended her dismissal from Lok Sabha.[46][47] On 8 December 2023, the
Lok Sabha voted to expel Moitra from the membership of the house as per the recommended in report by the Parliamentary Committee on Ethics.[5][48] Moitra has approached the Supreme Court challenging her expulsion.[49]
The CBI conducted a raid at Moitra's residence in Kolkata on 23 March 2024.[50][51]
Personal life
Moitra was married to
Danish financier Lars Brorson, with whom she later divorced.[52] She was in a relationship with advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai for about three years.[53][54]