Chaos in Parliament after cash recovered from Congress MP Abhishek Singhvi's Rajya Sabha seat
New Delhi/IBNS: Chaos erupted in Parliament on Friday after cash was recovered from Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi's seat in the Rajya Sabha, media reports said.
Vice President and Rajya Sabha chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said a probe into the same has been ordered.
"I hereby inform the members that during the routine anti-sabotage check of the chamber after the adjournment of the House yesterday, apparently, a wad of currency notes was recovered by the security officials from seat number 222 presently allotted to Abhishek Manu Singhvi, elected from the state of Telangana," said Dhankhar.
Investigation is underway, said the chairman.
#WATCH | Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar says, "I here by inform the members that during the routine anti-sabotage check of the chamber after the adjournment of the House yesterday. Apparently, a wad of currency notes was recovered by the security officials from seat number… pic.twitter.com/42GMz5CbL7
— ANI (@ANI) December 6, 2024
Reacting to the development, Singhvi said he "never heard of it till now" claiming he only carries one Rs. 500 note to the Rajya Sabha.
The Congress MP wrote on X, "Heard of it first time now. Never heard of it till now! I carry one 500 rs note when I go to RS. First time heard of it. I reached inside house at 1257 pm yday and house rose at 1 pm; then I sat in canteen till 130 pm with Sh Ayodhya Rami Reddy then I left parl!"
Heard of it first time now. Never heard of it till now! I carry one 500 rs note when I go to RS. First time heard of it. I reached inside house at 1257 pm yday and house rose at 1 pm; then I sat in canteen till 130 pm with Sh Ayodhya Rami Reddy then I left parl!
— Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) December 6, 2024
The Congress has objected to the Rajya Sabha chairman's naming of the parliamentarian when the investigation is underway.
Congress president and Rajya Sabha floor leader Mallikarjun Kharge said the member should not be named until the probe is complete and the "authenticity of the incident is established".
Seat number 222 in Rajya Sabha belongs to Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi ji.
— Harmeet Kaur K (@iamharmeetK) December 6, 2024
Abhishek Manu Singhvi ji Stated
That he goes to Rajya Sabha with only one Rs 500 note.
Yesterday also he reached the house at 12.57
The House adjourned at 1 o'clock, till 1.30 he was present in the… pic.twitter.com/iAQtQxrVCQ
BJP's parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju said the Congress should object to naming the Rajya Sabha member.
Rijiju said as quoted by Times Now, "As per the routine protocol, the anti-sabotage team checked the seats just to wind up the proceedings and the house. During that procedure, the note was found and the seat numbers were deciphered and the members also signed that day.
"I don't understand why there should be an objection that the Chair should not take the name of the member. The Chairman has rightly pointed out the seat number and the member who occupies that particular seat number. What is wrong with that? Why there should be an objection?"
