On 11th February, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari alleged that Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Mahua Moitra wilfully committed tax fraud by receiving “professional fees” from a company owned by her husband, senior advocate and former BJD MP Pinaki Mishra.
Did @AITCofficial MP Mahua Moitra Commit Wilful Tax Evasion; & abetment under income tax law!?
— Pradeep Bhandari(प्रदीप भंडारी)🇮🇳 (@pradip103) February 11, 2026
Rather than filing fake cases in an attempt to intimidate people on social media; she should answer:
1. What " professional services" were provided by her to a "shell company" "WHITE… pic.twitter.com/kxSYsPrMPO
Allegations over ‘professional fees’ from White Lilly
In a post on social media platform X, Bhandari cited tabulated financial data and claimed that substantial sums were routed as “professional fees”, including payments allegedly received by Moitra from a company named White Lilly. He questioned what specific “professional services” were rendered to the company, which he described as a shell entity.
Furthermore, Bhandari referred to a 2014 interview of Mishra published in The Mint where he had stated that companies controlled by his family have no active business operations and primarily hold property assets generating rental income. Based on this information provided by Mishra himself in an interview, Bhandari questioned the legitimacy of professional fee payments to Moitra.
According to the tabulated data shared by Bhandari, Moitra received Rs 29,58,000 as professional fees. It was divided into four parts, two times from White Lilly in FY 2022-23 and 2023-24, and two times from Pinaki Mishra in FY 2023-24 and 2024-25.
Questions on tax evasion and parliamentary ethics
Bhandari further alleged that the transactions raise concerns of possible violations under Section 276 of the Income Tax Act and could amount to abetment under income tax law. He further claimed that the matter, if proven, may constitute a serious breach of parliamentary ethics under the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Lok Sabha.
Bhandari further alleged that the transactions raise concerns of possible violations under Section 276 of the Income Tax Act and could amount to abetment under income tax law. He also claimed that the matter, if proven, may constitute a serious breach of parliamentary ethics under the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Lok Sabha.
The TMC MP has not publicly responded to the specific allegations by the time this report was published. If she issues any statement, it will be updated accordingly.
