Congress Seeks JPC Probe Into Rajya Sabha 'Note Scandal', Claims BJP Plot To Divert Attention

The discovery of a bundle of notes amounting to Rs 50,000 on a Rajya Sabha seat allocated to a Congress MP has led to Congress to demand a Joint Parliamentary Committee investigation.

Congress president and Rajya Sabha Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge.

Source : PTI

Rajya Sabha 'Note Bundle' Scandal: Congress has demanded an investigation into the Rajya Sabha 'note scandal' by a Joint Parliamentary Committee. Congress Chief Whip in Rajya Sabha Jairam Ramesh met Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar to put forth his party's demand for the JPC probe.

On Thursday evening, a bundle of notes, amounting to Rs 50,000 was allegedly found on Rajya Sabha Seat Number 222. The seat is allocated to the Congress's Telangana MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi. Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar apprised the Rajya Sabha of the incident on Friday.

Watch: Vice President and Rajya Sabha Speaker Jagdeep Dhankhar says, "I inform you that during the routine anti-sabotage check of the chamber, after the adjournment of the house yesterday, a bundle of currency notes was recovered by security officials from seat number 222,… pic.twitter.com/Uvp4uAGyKR

— IANS (@ians_india) December 6, 2024

Congress sources said that the incident was just an attempt by the government to divert attention from the Adani issue. "However, keeping a sum of Rs 50,000 in the pocket is not a crime," a Congress leader said. Reacting to the incident, Abhishek Manu Singhvi said: " "Never heard of it [the allegation] till now! I carry one Rs 500 note when I go to Rajya Sabha. This is the first time I have heard of it. I reached the House at 12:57 PM and the House rose at 1 PM. Then I sat in the canteen till 1:30 pm before leaving Parliament." 

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 parl!

— Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) December 6, 2024

The BJP reacted strongly to the "serious incident" and accused the Congress of suppressing the matter. However, Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge said, "We are not averse to an investigation. I only request that until the investigation is done and the authenticity of the incident is established, a member should not be named..."