Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar informed the House on Friday that a wad of currency notes was found during a routine anti-sabotage check at seat number 222, assigned to Congress MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi. The discovery has been referred for further investigation, he said.
Responding to the incident, Singhvi denied any involvement and described the situation as “bizarre.”
Dhankhar explained, “During a routine anti-sabotage check after the House adjourned yesterday, security officials recovered a wad of currency notes from seat number 222, currently allotted to Abhishek Manu Singhvi, elected from Telangana. The matter was brought to my attention, and I have ensured that an investigation is underway.”
Addressing reporters, Singhvi recounted his brief presence in Parliament on Thursday. “I am utterly astonished by this news. I was in the House for just three minutes—from 12:57 p.m. until the adjournment at 1 p.m. Between 1 p.m. and 1:30 p.m., I was having lunch in the canteen with Ayodhya Prasad, and I left Parliament at 1:30 p.m.,” he stated.
Singhvi added, “It’s absurd that such incidents are politicized. There must be a thorough inquiry into how anything could be placed on any seat. MPs should have locked seats with personal keys to avoid such baseless allegations. If it weren’t so serious, it would be laughable. I am ready to cooperate fully in uncovering the truth and believe any security lapses should be thoroughly investigated.”
The recovered notes were reportedly in ₹500 denominations, with around 100 in total. However, authorities have not yet confirmed whether the currency is genuine or counterfeit.
Dhankhar remarked, “It was my duty to inform the House. This was part of a routine anti-sabotage check. Interestingly, no one has come forward to claim the money yet. Does this reflect the state of our economy, where someone forgets such a significant sum?”
The announcement sparked an uproar from both opposition and treasury benches. Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge questioned the decision to disclose the MP’s name before the investigation concluded. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju defended Dhankhar’s approach, arguing that revealing the seat number and its occupant was appropriate, as carrying bundles of currency in Parliament is unacceptable.
Dhankhar assured the House that the investigation would be thorough, adding that the steps taken so far were only preliminary.
