A huge uproar was created in the upper house of Parliament, with the government and opposition attacking each other after Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar announced in the House that a wad of currency notes was “recovered from seat 222, presently allotted to Abhishek Manu Singhvi,” at the closing of Rajya Sabha on December 5.
According to Dhankar, what appeared to be a wad of Rs 500 notes was found during the routine “anti-sabotage” security check in the House.“The matter was brought to my notice and I felt it expedient as per practice and ordainment to ensure investigation takes place in accordance with law. And the same is underway,” Dhankhar said.
“When it was brought to my notice, I thought someone would come to reclaim it. Since nothing happened since morning… But all these are subject to serious investigation.” He said carrying bundles of notes in the House is not appropriate, adding that he agrees there should be a serious investigation.
Amid ruckus raised by the Opposition over Singhvi’s name coming up, the Leader of Opposition (LoP) Mallikarjun Kharge said that the Chairman should not have named the member without the investigation being completed.
“After investigation only a conclusion should be arrived at. Before an investigation, the member should not have been named.” He added later, “You said it is under investigation. But without investigating, how can you say a particular man or particular seat?”
Congress’s Singhvi posted on social media, “Heard of it for the first time now. Never heard of it till now. I carry one Rs 500 note when I go to Rajya Sabha. I reached inside the House at 12.57 pm yesterday, and the House rose at 1 pm. Then I sat in the canteen till 1.30 pm with Ayodhya Rami Reddy, then I left Parliament.”
As per sources, Congress believes this (currency notes recovered from the bench of Abhishek Manu Singhvi) is a ploy to distract attention from the Adani issue. If somebody is carrying Rs 50,000 in their pocket it is not a crime. Congress leaders have met with Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhakhar and have requested to conduct an investigation into the matter by any agency or even form a JPC on it.
