Trouble mounts for PC as Karti arrested

Mukerjeas allege, they paid `10L for FIPB clearance

Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram appeared to have a premonition of the arrest of his son Karti when he filed a petition recently in the Supreme Court apprehending “continued harassment” to him and his family members.

However, even before Chidambaram’s petition could be listed for hearing by the top court, Karti was arrested by the Centra Bureau of Investigations (CBI) on February 28, on his arrival from London.

The fresh evidence in the case, that triggered the arrest of Karti, was based on the statement of Indrani Mukerjea, former director of INX Media (P) Ltd, who recorded it under section 164 of CrPC before a magistrate on February 17.

In the statement under this section, which is like a confessional statement before a judicial magistrate, Indrani has stated that she and her husband Peter Mukerjea had acceded to Karti’s demand of $1 million for allegedly fixing the violations done in the FIPB clearance.

Additional solicitor general Tushar Mehta, appearing for the CBI, said that this is not a case of political vendetta and that the investigation is in accordance with Article 21 of the Constitution. Senior advocate A.M. Singhvi, appearing for Karti, said it was a “bizzare” case and no grounds for arrest were made out.

“It is a bizzare case at the threshhold. It is not a case of arrest, leave aside police custody or judicial custody,” he told the court while opposing the CBI’s remand. It is learnt that the CBI might soon also question Karti’s father, ex-finance minister P. Chidambaram.