Mahua Moitra withdraws plea before Delhi High Court against eviction from government bungalow

Former Trinamool Congress (TMC) Member of Parliament (MP) Mahua Moitra on Thursday withdrew her plea filed before the Delhi High Court challenging the Government of India order to evict her from her government-allotted bungalow in New Delhi. .Senior Advocate Pinaki Misra appeared for Moitra and stated that they will approach the Directorate of Estates of the Government of India to allow her to stay in the bungalow till the 2024 Lok Sabha elections..As the petition was withdrawn, Justice Subramonium Prasad observed in his order that the Government shall take action in the case as per law.The Court also clarified that it has not made any observations on the merits of the case and the Directorate of Estates may apply its own mind to the facts and circumstances of the case..Moitra was issued a letter on December 11, 2023 and asked by the government to vacate her house by January 7, 2024. This came after she was expelled from parliament on December 8.The TMC leader challenged the government’s order and argued that the legality of her expulsion as a Member of Parliament (MP) is presently pending adjudication before the Supreme Court of India and therefore, the Directorate of Estates’ notice/letter was illegal.In the alternative, Moitra urged the Court to issue directions that would allow her to continue to reside at her current residence till the results of the 2024 general elections are declared."In the event that the petitioner is so allowed, she will readily undertake to pay any charges that may be applicable for the extended period of stay," Moitra submitted.She argued that her eviction from government accommodation would affect her ability to carry out activities she would be required to do in the run-up to the next general elections..Delhi High Court adjourns Mahua Moitra plea challenging eviction order to avoid clash with Supreme Court findings.On December 8, 2023, the Lok Sabha passed a resolution to expel Moitra from the parliament in the wake of a recommendation by an Ethics Committee for her disqualification as an MP.The Ethics Committee's recommendation and report followed a complaint by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey who alleged that Moitra had accepted cash in exchange for asking certain questions in parliament.Moitra has been accused of posing several queries in parliament concerning the Adani group of companies at the behest of a rival businessman, Darshan Hiranandani. Moitra was also alleged to have shared her Lok Sabha log-in credentials with Hiranandani..Senior Advocate Pinaki Misra and advocate Shadan Farasat appeared for Moitra.The Central government was represented through Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Chetan Sharma.