Rajya Sabha chairman orders probe after currency notes allegedly found on Abhishek Manu Singhvi's seat

Controversy erupted in the Rajya Sabha today after its Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar said he has received a report that a wad of currency notes was found near the seat allotted to Senior Advocate and Member of Parliament Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi..A probe into the the same is underway, Dhankhar disclosed. In a statement to the House, Dhankhar said that the cash was discovered during a routine anti-sabotage check of the chamber following the House's adjournment on Thursday (December 5).The Chairman emphasized that the matter is being investigated in accordance with the law, according to parliamentary procedure."I hereby inform that, during the routine anti-sabotage check of the chamber after the adjournment of the House yesterday, a wad of currency notes was apparently recovered by the security officials from seat number 222, presently allotted to Sri Abhishek Manu Singhvi, elected from the State of Telangana for the term 2024–2026. The matter was brought to my notice, and I felt it expedient, as per practice and ordainment, to ensure that an investigation takes place in accordance with law, and the same is underway," he said..Singhvi expressed surprise at the allegations in a video statement uploaded on X (formerly twitter). "I am quite astonished to even hear about it about 5 minutes ago. I never heard of it. I reached the inside of the House yesterday at 12:57 pm in the afternoon. The House rose at 1 pm, 3 or 4 minutes after I entered the House. From 1 to 1:30, I sat with Mr. Ayodhya Rami Reddy in the canteen, in Sangam. I had lunch. At 1:30, I left Parliament. So my total stay in the House yesterday was 3 minutes, and my stay in the canteen was 30 minutes," he said. .He added that all should cooperate in getting to the bottom of the allegations, adding that such an enquiry should focus on how anyone can come put anything in any seat in Parliament. He remarked that the allegations would be comic, if it were not so tragic and serious. "I find it bizarre that even such issues, politics, are raised. Of course, there must be an enquiry as to 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 MP. Because everybody can then do things in the seat and make allegations. If this was not tragic and serious, it would be comic. I think everybody should cooperate in getting to the bottom of this. If there is a failing of the security agencies, that must also be completely exposed," he said.