Mahua Moitra lawyer Gopal Sankaranarayanan withdraws from case after Jai Dehradai tells Delhi High Court he was contacted by senior lawyer

The hearing before the Delhi High Court in the defamation suit filed by Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey, and lawyer Jai Anant Dehadrai was privy to high drama on Friday after Dehadrai alleged in open court that Moitra's lawyer Gopal Sankaranarayanan had contacted him on Thursday asking him to withdraw the complaint against Moitra. .Dehadrai claimed that he has a recording of the conversation and that Sankaranarayanan should not be allowed to appear in the matter. "There is something very disturbing. There is very serious conflict of interest. He had a 30 minute call with me. He asked me to withdraw the CBI complaint in exchange for the dog. He can't appear in the matter. I have the recording," Dehadrai said.Sankaranarayanan conceded that he had indeed contacted Dehadrai because he knew Dehadrai since the latter had briefed him previously to appear in various matters. "Jai has instructed me in the past. That is why. When I was asked to appear in the matter, I told my client let me speak with him . She agreed," Sankaranarayanan told the Court..Justice Sachin Datta then said that he was appalled by the allegation and there could be a conflict of interest in Sankaranarayanan appearing for Moitra in this case. "I am really appalled. You are a person who is expected to maintain the highest professional standard. If you have been in contact with Defendant No 2..It means you have played the role of a mediator. Do you think you can appear in this matter," the Court asked.Sankaranarayanan then chose to withdraw from the case.The Court proceeded to post the case for further hearing on October 31. Dehadrai appeared in person while Dubey was represented by advocate Abhimanyu Bhandari. .Moitra has moved the Court against Dubey, Dehadrai and a host of media platforms seeking directions to them to take down the allegedly defamatory allegations that she asked questions in parliament against Adani Group in return for cash from businessman Darshan Hiranandani..Dubey and Dehadrai have alleged that Moitra accepted bribes to ask questions in parliament.The BJP MP had written to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha Om Birla on Sunday alleging that Moitra agreed to field questions in parliament on behalf of business tycoon Darshan Hiranandani, in exchange for cash and gifts.Dubey's complaint stemmed from a letter he received from Dehadrai, who had filed a complaint with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) claiming to have "irrefutable evidence that Moitra took bribes from Hiranandani."Moitra has termed all these allegations baseless and defamatory, and apart from an injunction, also sought damages. The MP from West Bengal said that the acts of Dubey, Dehadrai and others have caused serious damage to her dignity, reputation, respect and goodwill..She sent a legal notice to Dehadrai, Dubey and the media asking them to take down the allegations. Later she approached the High Court with a defamation suit. During the previous hearing on Tuesday, the Court had issued summons on the suit and notices to all the respondents on Moitra's plea for interim relief. .Meanwhile, Hiranandani's signed statement emerged in the media on Thursday in which he corroborated Dehadrai's claims and also said that he used Moitra's parliamentary login to draft and post questions in parliament targeting Adani group.The statement claimed that he did not want to displease Moitra and did various favours for her including gifting her expensive luxury items and providing her support in renovating her official bungalow in Delhi.In response, Moitra also released a statement questioning how a signed affidavit was issued on a white paper without any letterhead."Darshan Hiranandani has not been summoned by the CBI or the Ethics committee or indeed by any investigative agency yet. Who then has he given this affidavit to? The affidavit is on white paper and not on official letterhead or notarised. Why would one of India’s most respected/ educated businessman sign a letter like this on white paper unless a gun was put to his head to do it," Moitra asked.She also alleged that Hiranandani's affidavit has been drafted by "some half-wit in the PMO who doubles up as a creative writer in the BJP’s IT cell. It sings paeans to Modi and Gautam Adani while linking in every opponent of theirs to me and my alleged corruption."Moitra also rebuffed claims that Hiranandani gave in to her demands because he was fearful of displeasing her."Darshan and his father run one of India’s largest business groups and their recent projects in UP and Gujarat have been inaugurated by the CM of Uttar Pradesh and by the Prime Minister. Darshan accompanied the PM abroad as part of his business delegation very recently. Why would such a wealthy successful businessman who enjoys direct access to every Minister and the PMO be coerced by a first time Opposition MP into giving her gifts and giving into her demands? It is totally illogical and only cements the truth that this letter was drafted by the PMO and not Darshan," she claimed..Read detailed story on Moitra's grounds for approaching the High Court here.