CBI arrests Karti in INX media corruption case
AIRPORT ARREST Held on return from UK; vendetta, claims Chidambaram’s son NEWDELHI:
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested Karti Chidambaram in connection with the INX Media moneylaundering case at Chennai airport on his return from London on Wednesday.
He was produced in the court of a metropolitan magistrate here in the evening.
Karti, who was allowed to interact with his lawyer by the judge, said it was a case of vendetta. “Absolutely, political vendetta,” he said while being taken to the court.
On May 15, 2017, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had registered an FIR against Karti Chidambaram on charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating, accepting gratification through corrupt or illegal means, influencing public servants and criminal misconduct.
Karti was put on a Delhibound flight and brought to the agency headquarters where the CBI completed formalities such as the medical test before producing him before the designated court.
The agency did not produce him for before a local magistrate in Chennai for his transit remand since the probe agency has an all-India jurisdiction.
The Congress described the arrest as vendetta and a move to divert attention from the alleged Rs 12,636 crore Punjab National Bank fraud.
“Classical diversionary tactic to hide Scams & Colossal Corruption that is being exposed on a daily basis, be it NiMo+Choksi, D.D. Jewellers and Rotomac. Modi Govt continues it’s vendetta against Sh. P. Chidambaram. Won’t deter the Congress from bringing the truth to the people,” Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said.
Senior Congress leader and advocate Abhishekh Manu Singhvi, who will represent Karti in court in the INX media case, questioned the “sudden” need to arrest Karti at a time when the Centre is facing flak over the PNB scam involving businessman Nirav Modi.
“What a coincidence to have the arrest of #KartiChidambaram at a time when the nation is questioning the Centre on #ChotaModi,” he tweeted.
Meanwhile, Karti’s father, former finance minister P Chidambaram, is said to have cut short his stay in London and rushing back home. He refused to answer questions by media at the Heathrow Airport.
Contesting that the arrest was political vendetta, BJP spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao said Karti’s arrest followed months of investigation and gathering of incriminating evidence.
“The facts in this case clearly show how private gains were made by perpetrating fraud by subversion of governmental processes and abuse of public office. This is a textbook case of financial fraud,” he said.
The arrest comes almost a week after the 46-year-old businessman moved the Supreme Court for a stay on the Enforcement Directorate’s summons against him.
The CBI charge is that Karti used his influence in the finance ministry to help INX Media get approval for foreign investments from three Mauritius-based investors.
His father was the finance minister then.