By – Rohit Dwivedi
A major controversy unfolded in the Rajya Sabha after a bundle of cash was discovered on the seat of Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi. Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar informed the house that during routine security checks after the suspension of the day’s proceedings, security officials found a bundle of currency notes on seat number 222, which is currently allocated to Singhvi, elected from Telangana.
Chairman Dhankhar addressed the house, clarifying that the discovery was part of a regular inspection, and no conclusions about the origin of the money had been drawn yet. He further emphasized that the information provided was simply about the seat number and was not linked to any political party.
Opposition Raises Questions on Investigation and Alleged Bias
However, the revelation sparked an uproar in the house, with opposition leaders raising concerns about the investigation’s impartiality. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge questioned Chairman Dhankhar’s approach, suggesting that associating the incident with a particular party without a thorough inquiry was unfair. Kharge argued that a proper investigation would reveal who was responsible, and it was premature to target any individual or party at this stage.
In response, Dhankhar reiterated that he was merely relaying factual information and had not implied any connection to a specific party.
Abhishek Manu Singhvi Denies Any Involvement
Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi quickly denied any connection to the money found in the Rajya Sabha. He stated that the money discovered was not his, clarifying that he had only carried a ₹500 note to the House on the day in question. Singhvi maintained that the discovery was unrelated to him and called for a fair investigation to get to the bottom of the matter.
The incident has raised questions about security protocols in the Rajya Sabha and whether proper checks are being followed. With the opposition demanding a transparent inquiry, all eyes are now on the ongoing investigation to determine how the cash ended up on the MP’s seat and who, if anyone, is responsible.
The controversy has also brought into focus the tense atmosphere in the Rajya Sabha, with allegations and counter-allegations continuing to heat up the debate.