Karti Chidambaram arrest LIVE updates: The son of former finance minsiter P Chidambaram was arrested on Wednesday in connection with a money laundering case against INX Media. (Express Photo/Prem Nath Pandey/File)
Karti Chidambaram was arrested on Wednesday morning by the CBI in connection with a money laundering case against INX Media. The son of former finance minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, Karti was interrogated by authorities at Chennai Airport after landing from London. The development comes a day after Karti’s chartered accountant S Bhaskararaman was sent to judicial custody for 14 days.
Karti, who was brought to Delhi today, is named in a case which relates to Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approval granted in 2007 for receipt of funds by INX Media when his father and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram was the Union finance minister. P Chidambaram and Karti have denied allegations in the CBI’s FIR against the latter.
Commenting on Karti Chidambaram's arrest, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy said, "CBI gave him a lot of chances but he continued with his lies even after all evidence was presented against him. He will certainly go to jail and charge-sheet will be filed by CBI. This is a great achievement."
Congress leader and senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi will appear for Karti Chidambaram in Delhi's Patiala House Court later in the afternoon in the INX Media case
Karti Chidambaram arrives in Delhi. Karti is being taken to Delhi's Patiala House Court after he was taken into custody by CBI earlier today in connection with the INX media case.
In case you're just tuning in, Karti Chidambaram, the son of senior Congress leader and former finance minister P Chidambaram was arrested this morning by the CBI in Chennai. He was arrested at the Chennai airport in connection with the INX Media case. He will be produced before a court in Delhi shortly.
Here's everything you need to know about today's developments.
Karti will arrive in the national capital and produced before a designated court this afternoon, reports PTI. Karti was taken into custody by the CBI this morning after landing in the country from the UK. He had gone abroad to for his daughter's admission in Cambridge University. He was questioned by the agency before being brought the Delhi.
Congress says Karti's arrest is a "classic diversionary tactic" by the government to hide scams that are being exposed "on a daily basis." Party spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala tweets, "Modi Govt continues it's vendetta against Sh. P. Chidambaram. Won’t deter the Congress from bringing the truth to the people."
AICC General Secretary Ashok Gehlot reacts to Karti's arrest. Taking to Twitter, he says the arrest was made to divert the attention from the big issues which the NDA government is facing.
Advocate Prashant Bhushan tweets, "Though CBI may have evidence against Karti Chidambaram, yet there's no justification to arrest him during investigation, without a charge sheet, since there is no danger of his fleeing the country. This show, while big fish like NiMo, MehulBhai &Mallya are allowed to loot & scoot."
Officials from the CBI are escorting Karti to Delhi on a flight in connection with the case. They are expected to reach after noon.
Earlier this month, the Madras High Court granted Karti permission to leave the country, despite the CBI objecting to this. The HC placed conditions on his travels, including directing him to inform the CBI on his travel plan and return to India by February 28 (today). He was arrested this morning upon his arrival from the UK.
Karti had reportedly moved the court after he was restrained from leaving the country, in connection with the lookout circulars issued against him in the case.
P Chidambaram and Karti have repeatedly denied allegations levelled against the latter. Last week, P Chidambaram approached the Supreme Court claiming his fundamental rights were being violated by the NDA government. In his plea, he said the Centre was "misusing its agencies" leading to "continued harassment" of his family, including Karti. The CBI and the ED have raided multiple properties of Karti, including his residence and his office.
Karti will be brought to Delhi from Chennai by a 10.40 am flight, according to CBI sources. He is currently being questioned by authorities at the Chennai airport.
Karti was arrested this morning at the Chennai airport after landing in the country from the UK. He was arrested by CBI officials for not willing to cooperate with its investigation in the case. The development comes a week after Karti’s chartered accountant Bhaskararaman was arrested in connection with the case. He was sent to 14-day judicial custody yesterday.
It is alleged that Karti received money from INX Media and in return used his influence to manipulate a tax probe against the company. The company was being probed for violating Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) conditions to receive investment from Mauritius.
The CBI, in its FIR, alleges INX Media’s FDI proposal was “deceitful and fallacious” but was approved by then finance minister P Chidambaram. Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate is also probing the case under provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
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Karti Chidambaram was arrested this morning at the Chennai airport in connection with a money laundering case against INX Media. The CBI took him in for questioning at the airport and is likely to bring him to Delhi later in the day. Follow our live blog for the latest news and updates.