Following a significant uproar regarding a cash incident in the Rajya Sabha, a high-level investigation is currently underway to determine how a bundle of Rs 50,000 in cash ended up at the seat of Opposition MP Abhishek Manu Singhavi. Authorities are examining the CCTV footage from the proceedings.
The investigative team comprises officials from the Rajya Sabha Secretariat along with senior MPs and security personnel. Earlier today, Vice President and Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar informed the house that a cash bundle made up of Rs 500 notes, totaling Rs 50,000, was discovered during a security check the previous evening.
The BJP took the opportunity to criticize the Congress party, while Singhvi stated that he had only been in the house for three minutes yesterday, suggesting the cash could have come from anywhere. BJP MP Anurag Thakur highlighted the seriousness of the situation by stating that if the Rajya Sabha Chairman has made a statement, it indicates a significant issue at hand.
He questioned why the opposition seems reluctant to address public concerns. BJP MP Kiren Rijiju emphasized that the matter warrants investigation, noting that such a cash amount is rarely carried around in today’s digital payment era. BJP MP Deepak Prakash linked the incident to alleged corruption, declaring it shameful for Parliament. In response, opposition MPs rallied around Singhvi, suggesting that the incident might be a tactic employed by the BJP to disrupt proceedings and divert attention away from discussions about the Adani issue.
Congress MP Jairam Ramesh criticized the focus on Singhvi, arguing that the House was searched after 6 PM, and he called for a thorough investigation. He framed the situation as a diversion strategy by the BJP, pointing out the pressing issues they wish to raise, including allegations of bribery in the Modani scandal. JMM MP Mahua Majhi accused the government of using such allegations as an excuse to adjourn the house. RJD MP Manoj Jha expressed that if the BJP had protested similar to the current situation, more misconduct would have been revealed regarding the Adani issue.
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi echoed this sentiment, stating that the government seems to be making allegations to distract from significant discussions, emphasizing the need for an investigation into these claims against the opposition.
