Delhi HC grants Karti Chidambaram temporary relief from arrest
In some relief for Karti Chidambaram, son of former finance minister P Chidambaram and an accused in the INX money-laundering case, the Delhi HC has refrained the ED from arresting him till March 20. This comes a day after the SC transferred to the HC his plea seeking quashing of summons issued by the agency. Since February 28, Karti has been in CBI custody.
About the alleged INX money laundering case
According to the CBI's FIR, INX was approved by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) for investment of Rs. 4.62cr, but actually received Rs. 305cr by sale of shares. When I-T launched a probe, INX allegedly took the help of Karti's companies "to get the issues resolved" by influencing FIPB officials. FIPB was under the Finance Ministry, then headed by Karti's father P Chidambaram.
Karti has 'categorically denied' any wrongdoing
In May 2017, the ED had registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), an equivalent of a police FIR, against Karti, INX Media and its former directors Peter and Indrani Mukerjea. Karti was accused of criminal conspiracy, cheating, seeking to influence a public servant, and criminal misconduct. He has "categorically denied" any wrongdoings, but reportedly has been detaching himself from suspicious properties/accounts.
ED planning to grill Karti after CBI custody ends
Karti was first grilled by ED in January. He had challenged its summons in the SC, arguing the agency had no right to summon him based on CBI's FIR. Three days ago, the court rejected his petition after CBI contended it was "a guise for an anticipatory bail-plea." After his CBI custody is over, ED plans to question Karti on transactions and business relations.
