Rajya Sabha Chairman Dhankhar claims wad of cash found at Abhishek Singhvi’s seat; Cong MP says ‘carry one ₹500 note’

Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on December 6 informed the House that security officials recovered a wad of currency notes from seat number 222, which is presently allotted to Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi, elected from the state of Telangana.

What did Rajya Sabha Chairman say in the House?

The Chairman, while informing the House, mentioned that an investigation on this is underway. 

“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, which is presently allotted to Abhishek Manu Singhvi, elected from the state of Telangana. The matter was brought to my notice, and I made sure an investigation takes place, and the same is underway.”

Abhishek Manu Singhvi denies claim

Taking to X, Singhvi posted a video, saying, “Heard of it first time now. Never heard of it till now! I carry one ₹500 note when I go to RS. First time heard of it. I reached inside the House at 12.57 pm yesterday, and House rose at 1 pm; then I sat in canteen till 01.30 pm with Sh Ayodhya Rami Reddy, then I left Parliament! Pl quote me if u do fully. I find it bizzare that on such issues, politics is raised. Of course, there must be inquiries on how people can come and put anything anywhere in any seat. It means that each of us must have a seat, where the seat itself can be locked, and the key can be carried home by the member of Parliament. Because everybody can then do things on the seat and make allegations about this."

He added, "If it was not tragic and serious, it would be comical. I think everybody should cooperate in getting to the bottom of this, and if there is a failing in the security agencies, that must also be completely exposed.” 

Reactions on wad of cash found from Singhvi's seat

Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress President and LoP in the Rajya Sabha responded to Chairman Dhankhar and said that the Chair should not have named the MP if the matter was under investigation.

"I am not going beyond that, I know that you will not allow us. You said that this matter is under investigation then his/her name should not have been taken. I request that until the investigation is done and the authenticity of the incident is established, a member should not be named. Can he do like this? Aaisa chillar kaam krti hai aur deshj ko of barbaad kr rahe hai yeh log (BJP)," Kharge said.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said no one carries note bundles in the House. He also expressed confusion over objections to the Chairman, mentioning the member's name stating it was appropriate for the Chairman to point out the seat number and the member occupying it.

"What is wrong with that? Why there should be an objection?...Don't you think that while we are going towards digital India, carrying a bundle of notes in the House is appropriate? We don't carry note bundles in the house. I fully agree with the observation of the Chairman that there must be a serious investigation and the concerns raised by the members are also very genuine," he said.

BJP MP Ravi Kishan called it a “shocking incident” and said, “A bundle of notes being recovered from the Parliament is a matter of investigation.”

BJP MP Manoj Tiwari told ANI, "The Vice President of India has ordered an inquiry into the matter. I am surprised as to where the bundle of notes are being recovered from Congress leaders...this incident should be investigated..."

(With inputs from agencies)