Currency notes found at Congress MP Abhishek Singhvi’s seat in Rajya Sabha: What we know so far

NEW DELHI: Chaos erupted in Rajya Sabha on Friday after chairman Jagdeep Dhankar announced that “wad of currency notes” were found from a seat allotted to Congress MP Abhishek Singhvi during checks in Rajya Sabha.
“I here by 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,” Dhankar said.

Abhishek Singhvi responds to the charge
Congress leader Singhvi responded to the charge, stating he carries only one Rs 500 note to Rajya Sabha and was hearing about this incident for the first time.
“Heard of it first time now. Never heard of it till now! I carry one 500 rs note when I go to RS. First time heard of it. I reached inside house at 1257 pm yday and house rose at 1 pm; then I sat in canteen till 130 pm with Sh Ayodhya Rami Reddy then I left parliament!” Singhvi said in a post on X.
Kharge’s request to Dhankar
Meanwhile, Kharge urged the chair to not name the MP in Parliament until the investigation is completed.
“I request that until the investigation is done and the authenticity of the incident is established, a member should not be named,” Kharge said.
BJP objects to Kharge’s demand
Parliamentary affairs minister Kiren Rijiju objected to Kharge’s request and demanded a “serious investigation” into the matter.
“As per the routine protocol, the anti-sabotage team checked the seats just to wind up the proceedings and 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.
“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 added.