A special court at Rouse Avenue in Delhi will pronounce the verdict on Karti Chidambaram’s anticipatory bail plea in bribe-for-visa case on Friday, June 3.
Last week, court granted interim protection from arrest till May 30 to Congress MP Karti Chidambaram in a case registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the Chinese Visas case. On Monday, May 30, the court said that the interim protection from arrest will continue.
WHAT IS THE CASE?
The home ministry allegedly cleared illegal visa use for Chinese nationals in return for Karti Chidambaram’s bribes in 2011 under the UPA government.
The Talwandi Sabo Power Limited was in the process of establishing a 1,980 MW thermal power plant in Mansa Punjab. The establishment was outsourced to a Chinese company called Shandong Electric Power Construction Corp (Sepco). The project was running behind schedule. So, in order to avoid penal action for the delay, Talwandi Sabo Power Limited was trying to bring in more Chinese professionals to the site.
This required project Visas over and above the ceiling imposed by the Ministry of Home Affairs. So, the company approached Karti Chidambaram through his close associates. They allegedly devised a back door to defeat the purpose of visa ceiling by granting permission to re-use 263 project visas allotted to the Chinese company’s officials.
KARTI CHIDAMBARAM’S BAIL PLEA
Earlier this month, the CBI filed a fresh case against Lok Sabha MP Karti Chidambaram for allegedly facilitating visas of 250 Chinese nationals after receiving illegal gratification of Rs 50 lakh in 2011.
Following this, Karti Chidambaram moved the court seeking anticipatory bail plea.
During the hearing in the special court at Rouse Avenue, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) opposed the anticipatory bail application of Karti Chidambaram, saying that the allegations of money laundering and fake visa are serious.
ED's counsel said that if anticipatory bail is granted, the agency will not be able to find out where the money went. All evidence will be destroyed. The agency said that Karti's arguments are frivolous and premature. Relying on them would be risky and sabotage the investigation.
Rouse Avenue Special Court will now pronounce its verdict on Karti Chidambaram's anticipatory bail plea on June 3. Till then the interim order of protection from arrest of the court will continue.