Ruckus in RS over unclaimed notes on Singhvi’s seat, probe on

The Rajya Sabha witnessed disruptions and adjournment on Friday after a wad of Rs 500 currency notes was recovered from the seat of Congress MP Abhishek Singhvi, prompting Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar to order a probe.

Advertisement

Controversy over wad of Rs 500 notes

• Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday said security staff had recovered a wad of Rs 500 notes (Rs 50,000) from the seat allotted to Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi
• Singhvi said it was bizarre that politics was being played on issues such as this
• Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said the Chairman shouldn’t have named the MP without the probe being over

The information regarding the suspicious bundle seized from the seat allotted to Singhvi during anti-sabotage checks in the House was shared with MPs by Dhankhar, much to the displeasure of the Congress and the MP concerned.

“If it was not tragic and serious, it would be comic...this is bizarre. I think we should have glass enclosures in the House to prevent people from planting ganja on the seats of parliamentarians,” said Singhvi, a leading Supreme Court lawyer who defends the high and mighty of Indian politics. Singhvi said he only carries Rs 500 to the Rajya Sabha and had spent just three minutes in the House on Thursday.

“My total stay in the House yesterday was for three minutes and in Parliament for 30 minutes. I find it bizarre that politics is played even on such issues. Of course, there should be an inquiry as to how people can come and put anything anywhere on any seat,” Singhvi said after Dhankhar named him.

The RS Chairman mentioned a wad of currency notes (Rs 50,000) was recovered by security officials from seat 222 allotted to Abhishek Manu Singhvi of the Congress, elected from Telangana for the term from 2024 to 2026.

“The matter was brought to my notice and I felt it expedient as per practice to ensure investigation takes place in accordance with the law and the same is underway. It was my duty and I am obliged to inform the House. Information has been imparted for a simple reason. You cannot make out from the surface whether these notes are fake or not. Apparently the denomination is Rs 500. All these are subject to serious investigation. No one should be opposed to a serious probe,” said Dhankhar.

The RS Chairman added that no one had claimed the currency notes so far. “Does it reflect the state of the economy that people can afford to forget it?” he asked.

Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge said names should not have been taken till the truth was ascertained. “Where it was found and on what seat...We are not against a probe....” Kharge said amid a ruckus by BJP MPs. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said, “Do you think when we are going towards Digital India, carrying a bundle of notes to the House was appropriate? No, it is not…. Serious investigation should be held.”

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said, “Today a wad has been found. God knows tomorrow what else will be found. We are watching how fake narratives and allegations are being used to disrupt Parliament, how they are trying to mislead the country. They are building a whole narrative with the backing of international forces.” Singhvi proposed glass enclosures, barber wires and seats with lock and key to prevent people from planting things on MP seats.

The House was adjourned for the day in the afternoon after sporadic disruptions.