Chinese Visa Case: Karti Chidambaram Terms ED Probe as ‘Fishing and Roving’ Inquiry

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 16th Dec. Karti Chidambaram, a Congress MP, has requested to be exempted from appearing before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday. He has been summoned in relation to a money laundering case involving the issuance of visas to Chinese nationals in 2011. Chidambaram argues that the investigation is a “fishing and roving” inquiry and that he needs time to gather the necessary documents.

The ED initially asked Chidambaram to appear before the investigating officer on December 12 in Delhi. However, due to his engagement in the ongoing Parliament session, the ED rescheduled his appearance for December 16.

The ED case, which began in 2022, alleges that Karti Chidambaram and his associate S Bhaskararaman received kickbacks of Rs 50 lakh from a top executive of Talwandi Sabo Power Ltd. (TSPL), a Vedanta group company setting up a power plant in Punjab. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed an FIR based on these allegations, leading to the money laundering case.

Karti Chidambaram, through his lawyer, has submitted a 100-page reply to the investigating officer. The reply includes his election affidavit, income tax return, bank account details, and information about his immovable assets. He has requested exemption from appearing on Saturday and additional time to provide all the documents requested by the agency.

It is unclear whether the ED has considered his plea.

Karti’s lawyer stated that he is willing to cooperate with the investigation but has some contentions. He pointed out that the latest summons do not specify whether Karti is being called as an accused or a witness in the case. The lawyer also argued that the information and documents requested by the ED are part of a “fishing and roving enquiry” and that there is no justification for probing his and his family members’ personal financial matters.

Karti informed the ED that he has already submitted the requested documents and records multiple times in the past, particularly in the INX Media and Aircel-Maxis cases between 2018 and 2019. He emphasized that the current summons were issued mechanically and that he needs time to resubmit the documents, as they are extensive and located in his Chennai office and residence, while he is currently in Delhi for the winter session of Parliament.

Earlier this week, Karti stated that the case is baseless and his legal team will handle it.

Last year, the CBI conducted raids on the premises of the Chidambaram family and arrested Bhaskararaman, while Karti was questioned by the agency.