AAP MP Chadha back in Rajya Sabha after 115-day suspension

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Raghav Chadha, who was suspended from the Rajya Sabha on August 11, returned to the House on Monday-weeks after the Supreme Court asked the chairman of the House to take a "sympathetic" view if the MP apologises.

- Zia Haq

Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar ended Chadha's suspension on the first day of the winter session after a motion, which stated that he had served "sufficient sentence", was adopted by the House through a voice vote.

A privileges panel report had declared Chadha "guilty" on two counts of breach- "presenting misleading facts to the media" and "adding names of members in a proposed select committee without their consent".

The motion to end his suspension was moved by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) member GVL Narasimha Rao, under a proviso to rule 256 (6) of the Rules of Procedure for Conduct of Business in the Council of States. "The committee finds the suspension suffered by him since 11th August, 2023 from the House thus far as sufficient sentence that will meet the ends of justice," the motion said.

Before the motion was moved, chairman Dhankhar said, "The committee after deep and thoughtful consideration finds Raghav Chadha finds guilty of both the charges."