Chidambaram’s son moves HC
NEW DELHI: Karti Chidambaram, son of former finance minister P Chidambaram, on Friday moved the Madras high court for quashing a lookout circular (LOC) issued against him by the CBI, calling the move political vendetta by the Centre.
The development comes in the backdrop of a corruption case being probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) that relates to alleged irregularities in foreign direct investments received by INX Media in 2007.
Karti was named in an FIR by the agency in May, accusing him of using his influence to favour INX Media in receiving the investments from abroad in lieu of payments.
On Friday, Karti claimed an LOC was issued against him on July 18, even though he had responded to the summons issued by the CBI in connection with the probe. The CBI had, so far, not made it public that such an LOC was issued.
Karti’s plea prompted additional solicitor general G Rajagopalan to seek time from the court to get instructions on whether such a circular was issued. Jus- tice D Duraiswamy, who was hearing the case, adjourned the matter to August 7.
However, during the day, official government sources confirmed that the LOC was issued against Karti in the third week of June, not July 18 as claimed by him. Sources said the circular was issued to prevent Karti from leaving India and airports across the country were asked to intimate authorities about his travel plans, if any.
The LOC, once issued by CBI or any other investigating body, is executed by the bureau of immigration. An accused may be apprehended or arrested if he/ she tries to flee the country. “The nature of the LOC is to only prevent him from leaving the country and not to detain or arrest,” the source told HT.