Trinamool Congress leader Mahua Moitra on Monday approached the Supreme Court challenging her controversial expulsion from the Lok Sabha last week in the ‘cash for query’ corruption case.

Ms Moitra, 49, was accused of taking bribes, including ₹ 2 crore in cash and “luxury gift items”, from businessman Darshan Hiranandani in exchange for asking questions critical of the government in Parliament. She was also accused of surrendering log-in credentials to a confidential account on the parliamentary website, so Mr Hiranandani could post those questions directly.

A fiery critic of the Modi administration, Ms Moitra denied the bribery charges but admitted to sharing the log-in details. She argued that sharing of these details is common practice among MPs.

Mahua Moitra was the subject of a contentious Ethics Committee report that said “allegations of accepting illegal gratification (are) clearly established and are undeniable”, and that “taking gifts from (a) businessman to whom she handed over log-in (details) amounts to a quid pro quo…”

This, the report said, is “…unbecoming of an MP and is unethical conduct”.

The tabling of the 500-page report in the Lok Sabha triggered a furious row between the opposition and the ruling BJP, which included arguments on whether Ms Moitra would be allowed to speak.