Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar ordered a probe into the recovery of currency notes near the seat of Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi in the house. However, the MP from Telangana said he just had a Rs 500 note with him.
Addressing the house on Friday, Chairman Dhankar said, “I here by inform the members that during the routine anti-sabotage check of the chamber after the adjournment of the house yesterday (Thursday), 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,” he said.
Chairman said a probe has been ordered, “The matter was brought to my notice, and I made sure an investigation takes place and the same is underway,” ANI reported quoting the chairman.
However, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge objected to naming the member before completion of the probe. “I request that until the investigation is done and the authenticity of the incident is established, a member should not be named,” he said.
Meanwhile, Singhvi denied it and said he carried only a Rs 500 note. “Never heard of it till now. I carry one Rs 500 note when I go to Rajya Sabha. I reached the house at 12.57pm and the house rose at 1pm, then I sat in the canteen till 1.30pm, and then I left the Parliament,” Singhvi told ANI.
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Union Minister J.P. Nadda said the allegation is of a serious nature and the dignity of the house has been hurt. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said, “As per the routine protocol, the anti-sabotage team checked the seats just to wind up the proceedings in the house. During that procedure, the note was found and the seat numbers were deciphered and the members also signed that day. I don't understand why there should be an objection that the Chair should not take the name of the member. The Chairman has rightly pointed out the seat number and the member who occupies that particular seat number. What is wrong with that? Why there should be an objection?”
Rijiju asked whether it was appropriate to bring currency notes in the house while the nation is moving towards Digital India.
