Karti Chidambaram, son of former Union Minister P. Chidambaram, on Wednesday was produced before Metropolitan Magistrate Sumeet Anand in New Delhi. He was arrested early on Wednesday morning at the Chennai airport by a special team of the CBI’s Economic Offences Wing soon after his arrival from London.
A CBI official said the team from Delhi interrogated Mr. Karti in connection with the INX Media case and took him into custody. He was taken to an undisclosed location for further questioning. Later in the day, he was taken to New Delhi.
The court allowed Mr. Karti and his lawyers to interact for 10 minutes, after which the proceedings resumed.
"Karti was evasive in his replies and uncooperative and had given incorrect statements with respect to the evidence collected by the CBI. He also resisted summons. It was causing delays in concluding the investigation," CBI officials said.
Mr. P. Chidambaram has cut short his London trip and is reaching New Delhi by tonight.
In May 2017, the CBI registered a case against Mr. Karti; M/s INX Media (P) Ltd., represented by its then directors Indrani Mukerjea and Pritam Mukerjea alias Peter Mukerjea; Chess Management Services (represented through its director Mr. Karti); Advantage Strategic Consultancy (P) Ltd., represented through its director Padma Vishwanathan and others; besides unknown officials in the Ministry of Finance on charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating and corruption.
Alleged irregularities in FDIs
In its FIR, the CBI alleged irregularities in the FIPB clearance to INX Media for receiving overseas funds to the tune of Rs 305 crore in 2007 when Mr. Chidambaram was the Union finance minister. It is alleged that Mr. Karti had received funds to the tune of Rs 10 lakh in the case, they said.
The CBI also alleged Mr. Karti also received money from INX media to scuttle a tax probe. The firm was owned at the time by Peter and Indrani Mukerjea, who are currently in jail on charges of murdering Indrani’s daughter Sheena Bora.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has also registered a money laundering case. It recently arrested S. Bhaskararaman, Mr. Karti's chartered accountant, for allegedly not cooperating in its probe.
(With inputs from PTI)
