Abhishek Manu Singhvi (born 24 February 1959) is an Indian senior advocate and politician. As politician, he is a member of the Indian National Congress (INC) and a member of the Parliament of India representing Telangana in the Rajya Sabha, the Upper House of the Indian Parliament, since August 2024.[1] He is also a spokesperson for the INC.[2] He is one of the senior advocates of the Supreme Court of India.[3]
Abhishek Singhvi | |
|---|---|
 Singhvi at the India Economic Summit, 2008 | |
| Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha | |
| Assumed office 28 August 2024 | |
| Preceded by | K. Keshava Rao |
| Constituency | Telangana |
| In office 3 April 2018 – 2 April 2024 | |
| Preceded by | Tapan Kumar Sen (CPI(M)) |
| Succeeded by | Samik Bhattacharya (BJP) |
| Constituency | West Bengal |
| In office 4 April 2006 – 3 April 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Ram Jethmalani |
| Succeeded by | Madan Lal Saini (BJP) |
| Constituency | Rajasthan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 24 February 1959 Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India |
| Political party | Indian National Congress |
| Spouse | Anita Singhvi |
| Relations | Laxmi Mall Singhvi (father) |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of Delhi (BA) Trinity College, Cambridge (MA, PhD) Harvard University (PIL) |
| Profession | Senior Advocate |
| Website | www |
Early life and education
editSinghvi was born in a Marwari family.[4] His father Laxmi Mall Singhvi was a scholar in Jain history and culture.[5] He was a renowned lawyer and India's former High Commissioner to the UK. He was elected to Rajya Sabha (1998–2004). His mother's name is Kamla Singhvi.
Singhvi did his schooling at St. Columba's School, Delhi.[6] He obtained B.A.(Hons.), M.A., PhD, PIL educated at St. Stephen's College, Trinity College, Cambridge and Harvard University. Singhvi completed his PhD under constitutional lawyer Sir William Wade of Cambridge University. The topic of his doctoral dissertation at Cambridge University was on Emergency Powers.[7][8]
Personal life
editSinghvi is married to Anita Singhvi, an Indian classical singer and an exponent of Sufi music. They have two sons.[9] In 2014, he was fined ₹ 57 crore by the Income Tax Settlement Commission for failing to furnish documents supporting his claims of expenditure for running his office.[10]
Positions held
editSinghvi, at 37, became the youngest Additional Solicitor General of India, in 1997.[11] He held the position for a year, until 1998.
- 2001 onwards National Spokesperson, Indian National Congress
- April 2006 Elected to Rajya Sabha
- Aug. 2006 – May 2009 and Aug. 2009 – July 2011 Member, Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice
- Aug. 2006 – Aug. 2007 Member, Joint Committee on Offices of Profit Member, Joint Committee to examine the Constitutional and Legal position relating to Office of Profit Member, Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Urban Development
- Sept. 2006 – Sept. 2010 Member, Committee of Privileges
- July 2010 onwards Member, Consultative Committee for the Ministry of External Affairs
- July 2011 onwards chairman, Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice Member, General Purposes Committee.
- July 2012 onwards Spokesman Congress Party.[12]
- April 2018 elected to Rajya Sabha from West Bengal.
- Chairman of the Standing Committee on Commerce[13]
- In 2024, Singhvi was fielded from Himachal Pradesh for the Rajya Sabha seat, but lost to Bharatiya Janata Party's Harsh Mahajan.[14][15]
- On 27 August 2024, Singhvi was elected to Rajya Sabha from Telangana.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b "Congress' Abhishek Singhvi Elected Unopposed To Rajya Sabha From Telangana". NDTV. PTI. 27 August 2024. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
- ^ "Cong calls for stern action". The Times of India. 20 October 2009. Archived from the original on 25 October 2012.
- ^ Roy, Debayan (18 May 2018). "The Growing Importance of Being Abhishek Manu Singhvi: Man Fronting Congress' Legal Troubles". News18. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
- ^ Taknet, D. K. (2016). The Marwari Heritage. IntegralDMS. p. 254. ISBN 9781942322061.
- ^ "Pay tribute to L M Singhvi". The Times of India. 6 October 2007. Retrieved 14 April 2019.
- ^ "Cometh Opposition's legal tussles, cometh Abhishek Manu Singhvi". India Today. 10 May 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ "Detailed Profile - Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi - Members of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) - Who's Who - Government: National Portal of India". Archived from the original on 23 April 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2011.
- ^ "Congress' Abhishek Manu Singhvi quits party, Parliament posts". NDTV. 25 September 2012.
- ^ "Abhishek Singhvi's son weds Vadilal Group's Aastha Gandhi in a star-studded ceremony". The Economic Times. Retrieved 30 April 2021.
- ^ "Tax trouble: Abhishek Manu Singhvi faces Rs 57 crore fine". The Times of India. 12 November 2014.
- ^ Mahapatra, Dhananjay (9 January 2010). "India's top 10 lawyers". The Times of India. Retrieved 4 April 2017.
- ^ "Abhishek Singhvi back as Congress spokesperson". News18. 2 November 2012. Retrieved 24 April 2020.
- ^ "Abhishek Singhvi to head parliamentary panel on commerce". The Hindu. 6 October 2022. Archived from the original on 14 February 2024. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
- ^ Joy, Shemin (27 February 2024). "Rajya Sabha polls: Singhvi loses, Congress stares at losing govt in Himachal Pradesh". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
- ^ "RS polls: Congress' Abhishek Singhvi loses from Himachal after cross-voting". The New Indian Express. PTI. 27 February 2024. Retrieved 27 February 2024.