Rajya Sabha Chairman Orders Probe After Cash Found at Congress MP Abhishek Singhvi’s Seat

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar informed the House on Friday that during a routine anti-sabotage check, a bundle of ₹500 currency notes was found on seat number 222, allotted to Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi. He confirmed that the matter had been handed over for investigation.

Singhvi Denies Allegations

In response, Abhishek Manu Singhvi vehemently denied any involvement, calling the situation “bizarre.” He explained that his presence in the House on the day of the discovery was minimal. “I entered the House at 12:57 pm and left by 1 pm. From 1 pm to 1:30 pm, I was in the canteen having lunch, and then I left Parliament. My total time in the House was three minutes,” Singhvi said, expressing disbelief over the incident.

Singhvi also questioned the lack of proper security, stating that it was important to investigate how such an incident could occur. He suggested that MPs’ seats should be lockable to prevent such occurrences. “It’s tragic that such a serious issue is being politicized. If it weren’t so serious, it would be comical. A thorough investigation is essential, and if security agencies have failed, they must be held accountable,” he added.

Chairman’s Statement

Chairman Dhankhar explained that the discovery of the cash occurred during the standard anti-sabotage check. He stated that the bundle, which appeared to be composed of 100 ₹500 notes, has not been claimed by anyone yet. The origin of the money—whether it was real or counterfeit—remains unclear.

“I must inform the House of such developments. This is a routine security check that was conducted after the adjournment of the House,” Dhankhar stated. He also raised a rhetorical question: “Does it reflect the state of our economy that people can afford to forget such a large amount of money?”

Debate Ensues Over Procedure

The announcement triggered an uproar, with the Opposition members questioning the naming of Singhvi before the completion of the investigation. Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge raised concerns over the Chairman publicly naming the MP, suggesting that it was premature to do so without a thorough investigation.

However, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju supported the Chairman’s actions, arguing that the identification of the seat and its occupant was a necessary step for transparency. “There should be no objection to the Chairman pointing out the seat and its occupant. Carrying such sums of money into the House is inappropriate, and I agree that there should be a serious inquiry,” Rijiju said.

Next Steps in the Investigation

Chairman Dhankhar emphasized that his actions were minimal and in line with his duty to keep the House informed. He expressed confidence that the investigation would uncover how the money ended up on Singhvi’s seat. Both the Treasury and Opposition benches raised concerns about security protocols in Parliament, calling for measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The investigation continues, and all parties involved have expressed their commitment to uncovering the truth behind this strange incident. With both political sides focused on the issue, the matter is expected to remain a topic of intense debate in the coming days.