BJD MP Pinaki Mishra considers legal action after Odisha BJP drags his name into 'Cash for Query' scandal

New Delhi [India], October 22 : BJD Lok Sabha MP from Puri, Pinaki Mishra says he is considering legal action after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Odisha state unit dragged him into the alleged 'Cash for Query' scandal.
BJD MP Pinaki Mishra responded to BJP's allegations saying "It is unfortunate that the BJP Odisha has deemed it fit to make a totally false attack on me based on a malicious and utterly allegation floating in the public domain."
"As a member of Parliament for over 25 years my personal record of public service is unblemished and I would invite the BJP to fight us politically in Odisha rather than resorting to cheap publicity gimmicks for some quick airtime. I'm seriously considering a legal response via direct court action and will of course take a decision in due course," he stated in a release.
The BJP however chose to adopt a combative position and on Sunday in a post on X, BJP Spokesperson Anil Biswal claimed that the BJP was not afraid of any legal threat.
"I got the clarification of the Puri MP from the media. He should first clarify whether his name is in the affidavit filed or not. Whatever we said was based on those two affidavits. We also have knowledge of the law" Anil Biswal posted on X
"Can someone hide his illegal activities by threatening us with the law? No, we will not be afraid of someone's false threats!" he added.
Earlier, in a post on X on October 20, BJP's Anil Biswal alleged "Darshan Hiranandani who has given cash to Mahua Moitra to ask questions in Parliament and has admitted to the allegations, has also named Odisha's Puri MP Pinaki Mishra in his affidavit."
On October 20, the State unit of the BJP also held a press conference in Bhubaneswar and alleged that " Darshan Hiranandani, an industrialist, and Advocate Jai Anant Dehadrai both have submitted affidavits to the Ethics committee."
"They stated in affidavits that, TMC MP Mahua Moitra has taken money for raising questions in Parliament. Affidavit also names Puri's BJD MP Pinaki Mishra," BJP stated in the press conference.
In his three-page affidavit, the businessman Darshan Hiranandani has mentioned BJD MP Pinaki Mishra once.
"Over a period of time, my friendship with Mahua Moitra grew. I also felt that through her I would get support in other states ruled by the Opposition because she bonded extremely well with other leaders of Opposition like Rahul Gandhi, Shashi Tharoor and Pinaki Mishra......." the affidavit states.
In his affidavit, the businessman also alleged that he had been given access to the TMC MP Mahua Moitra's parliamentary login credentials and had even used the same to pose questions.
In her response posted on X October 21, to allegedly handing over her parliament login credentials, Mahua Moitra said "Request NIC to please release ALL details of MPs publicly to show they were physically present in place from where IDs were accessed by their PAs and researchers/interns/staff. Don't use Fake Degree wala for the leak, make this public NOW."
The sworn affidavit of Darshan Hiranandani and the original complaint by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey along with proof of alleged 'Cash for Query' submitted to Nishikant Dubey by Advocate Jain Anant Dehadrai is now before the Ethics Committee of Parliament.
The committee has called BJP MP Nishikant Dubey and Advocate Jain Anant Dehadrai, to submit oral evidence before it, on October 26.