INX Media case: CBI gets 5-day custody of Karti Chidambaram, no home food allowed

A Delhi court on Thursday sent Karti Chidambaram, accused of corruption in the INX Media case, to CBI custody till March 6.

“I will be vindicated eventually,” Karti told the media outside the court.

Special Judge Sunil Rana extended Karti’s custody after the CBI contended that there were “very shocking evidences” of what he has done when he went abroad and alleging “when he went abroad, he closed bank accounts in which funds were received”.

The CBI, which wanted his custody for 14 days, arrested Karti — the son of former finance minister P Chidambaram — from Chennai airport a day earlier. He was produced in court after the expiry of his one-day custody.

The court has allowed Karti’s lawyer to meet him for one hour in the morning and an hour in the evening. It also allowed Karti to carry medicines on prescription, but no home food.

It has also allowed him to wear a chain and a ring because it is for religious purpose.

The 46-year-old Karti is accused of using his influence in the finance ministry — at a time when his father was the minister — to help INX Media get approval for foreign investments from three Mauritius-based investors.

Appearing for the CBI, additional solicitor general Tushar Mehta told the court: “The accused is required to be confronted with other accused, co-accused and suspects, which will take time. He will be confronted with the evidence collected by the CBI... 14 days’ remand is minimum requirement for interrogation of the accused.”

He maintained that this was “not a case of political vendetta” and the investigation was going on in accordance with Article 21 of the Constitution.

Even though Karti did not complain of any uneasiness during his regular medical check up yesterday, doctors at Safdarjung Hospital sent him to the cardiac care unit and he was brought to the CBI office only in this morning, said the CBI counsel.

Due to his hospitalisation, the CBI’s one-day custody was virtually wasted, he said.

Karti’s mother Nalini Chidambaram, also a senior advocate, was seen sitting with him in the court. Father P Chidambaram was overheard telling Karti, “Don’t worry, I am there.”

In his his argument seeking bail for Karti, lawyer and Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said: “The question today is how can there be a need for arrest given the facts of this case. .. They (CBI) have not issued summons to me (Karti) since August 27, 2017... Natural inference is you (CBI) have nothing to ask me.”

Singhvi argued the CBI’s contention that Karti has not be cooperating is “bizarre”.

“The only way to establish non-cooperation by me (Karti) is to send me summons. Non- cooperation does not mean I will offer myself to your (CBI) office. The CBI did not summon me since August but arrested me for not cooperating...You never tested my non-cooperation. Sudden arrest after six months. It’s bizarre,” said Singhvi.

He asked if Karti had done something illegal while abroad, why didn’t the CBI file a contempt petition before the court which allowed him to travel abroad.

“There is not an iota of evidence against Karti. He is being arrested despite complying with court orders repeatedly,” said Singhvi.

On Thursday, a Delhi court also reserved its order on a bail plea filed by Karti Chidambaram’s chartered accountant S Bhaskararaman who was arrested in the INX Media money laundering case.

Bhaskararaman, who will remain in jail till March 7, had sought bail on the ground that he was not required for custodial interrogation and no purpose would be served by keeping him in custody.

Karti was arrested on Wednesday at the Chennai airport on his return from the United Kingdom in connection with the FIR lodged on May 15 last year.

The FIR alleged that INX Media reportedly received approval from the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) for Rs 4.62 crore investment but received Rs 305 crore by sale of shares at a premium of Rs 800 per share instead of Rs 10 as mentioned by the company in its application.

The CBI alleges that after the income tax department started investigating, INX Media roped in Karti’s company called Chess Management Services Pvt Ltd “to get the issues resolved” by influencing officials of the FIPB.

(With PTI inputs)