Rajya Sabha (Representational Image) Photo: PTI Rajya Sabha (Representational Image) Photo: PTI

A fresh political debate unfolded when a bundle of cash was recovered from Congress' Rajya Sabha MP Abhishek Manu Singhvi's seat. As per reports, the bank notes were recovered from seat no. 222, which is allotted to Singhvi during the regular 'anti-sabotage' security check on December 5.

Following the standard protocol of the House, Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday flagged the recovery and ordered an investigation.

'Bizarre',' Astonishing': Singhvi reacts

Reacting to the development, Singhvi said it was 'astonishing'."Heard of it first time now. Never heard of it till now! I carry one Rs 500 note when I go to Rajya Sabha. First time heard of it. I reached inside the House at 12:57 pm and the House rose at 1 pm. Then I sat in canteen till 1:30 pm then I left Parliament," Singh said in a post on X soon after the charges cropped up.

"My total stay in the House yesterday was for three minutes and in Parliament for 30 minutes. I find it bizarre that even such issues are made political. Of course, there should be an enquiry as to how people can come and put anything anywhere on any seat," Singhvi later told reporters.

My short statement in English to some journalists. pic.twitter.com/k0i4KukJMw

— Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) December 6, 2024 About the 'anti-sabotage' security drill

CISF carries out the drill: The drill is conducted by the anti-sabotage teams of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) every day when Parliament is in session. The teams also include sniffer dogs who are especially trained to detect explosives. A team of 3,317 CISF personnel are deployed to carry out the drill.

The search team ideally aim to identify suspicious objects, signs of fresh human intervention in the area of duty, or anything that is unusual or suspicious.

Time of the drill: When the Parliament is in session, every morning the drill is conducted for around three hours covering each and every seat in both the Lower and Upper Houses. Parliament staff withdraw, and the chamber is handed over to the CISF security team.

ALSO READ | Rajya Sabha: Cash Bundle Recovered From Cong MP Singhvi's Seat, Probe Ordered

CISF took over from CRPF: Before CISF, the drill was a joint responsibility of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Delhi Police, and Parliament’s own Security Services. In May 2024, CISF took over after the withdrawal of around 1jilihot,400 CRPF personnel from these duties as, in serious breach of security on December 2023, two individuals jumped into the Lok Sabha chamber from the public gallery and released canisters of yellow smoke.

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