Karti appears before CBI to explain graft charges

Karti Chidambaram, son of former Union finance minister P Chidambaram, on Wednesday appeared before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with an alleged case of corruption.

Karti was directed by the Supreme Court to appear for questioning before the CBI.

The agency wants to examine him in connection with a Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance given to media group INX Media for receiving funds from Mauritius when his father P Chidambaram was the Union finance minister.

It is alleged that a company “indirectly controlled” by him had received money from INX Media, run by Indrani and Peter Mukerjea. The Mukerjeas, charged with the murder of Indrani’s daughter, Sheena Bora, are currently in jail.

The CBI had issued a notice to Karti to appear for questioning in June but he had sought more time. Later, a look out circular was also issued against him to prevent him from leaving the country, CBI sources said.

Karti then approached the Madras High Court which had stayed the circular. The Supreme Court later put on hold the high court order.

During a hearing before the apex court, Karti had said he was

CBI WANTS TO EXAMINE KARTI IN CONNECTION WITH A CLEARANCE GIVEN BY FIPB TO INX MEDIA FOR RECEIVING FUNDS FROM MAURITIUS WHEN HIS FATHER, P CHIDAMBARAM, WAS THE FINANCE MINISTER

willing to appear before the CBI to which it directed him to do so on August 23.

A bench comprising Chief Justice JS Khehar and Justice D Y Chandrachud allowed Karti to be accompanied by a lawyer at the CBI headquarters during the questioning.

The CBI had registered the case on May 15 against Karti, his company Chess Management Services, INX Media, Advantage Strategic Consulting Services, its director Padma Vishwanathan, and the Mukerjeas.

Karti’s father P Chidambaram had issued a strong statement in response to the FIR, saying the BJP-led central government was using the CBI and other investigation agencies to target his son.

FIPB approval was granted in “hundreds of cases”, the senior Congress leader had argued.

SONU MEHTA/HT PHOTO Karti Chidambaram arrives at the CBI headquarterers in New Delhi on Wednesday, a day after the Madras high court refused to quash the CBI FIR accusing him of corruption charges.