SC asks Karti Chidambaram to appear before CBI on August 23

The FIR, lodged by CBI on May 15, had alleged irregularities in Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance to INX Media for receiving overseas funds to the tune of Rs 305 crore in 2007 when Karti’s father was the finance minister.

A bench comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justice D Y Chandrachud allowed Karti to be accompanied by a lawyer at the CBI headquarters during questioning. It, however, directed that the accompanying lawyer would be sitting in an adjoining room to the place where Karti would be quizzed by CBI investigators. “During the course of hearing, the counsel for respondent number 1 (Karti) states that the respondent is ready and willing to appear before the investigating officer. We, therefore, direct respondent no. 1 to appear before the investigating officer on August 23 at CBI headquarters in New Delhi,” the bench said.

It also asked Karti to carry all necessary documents to defend self against the allegations made by the CBI. The bench gave the probe agency the liberty to question Karti as many times as it wanted and posted the CBI’s plea, challenging the Madras High Court order staying the lookout circulars (LOCs) issued against him and others, for further hearing to September 1. The bench has asked both parties to file their respective reports with regard to the investigation and other aspects of the case on the next date of hearing.

The hour-long hearing was witnessed by Karti Chidambaram from the visitors’ gallery of the CJI’s courtroom where his parents, senior advocates Nalini Chidambaram and P Chidambaram, were also seen in the court complex.

While the mother remained inside the courtroom during the entire hearing, the father remained outside in the corridor. The high-profile hearing began with the arguments of senior advocate Gopal Subramanium, counsel for Karti, who referred to the illustrious family history and said his client has deep roots in the society and is not going to flee.

“I have deep roots in the society and my family members are here... I have no interest in any Swiss company,” he said, adding that Karti had appeared before the CBI in 2014 and had said that he has no connection with the FIPB approvals. To this, the bench said that the 2014 appearance was in relation to the AircelMaxis deal and “Now we are concerned with another case.”

The senior lawyer said that Karti and his father had “separate ways” and the former was being harassed and his reputation being maligned in the name of FIPB approvals which were granted by the Finance Ministry and six senior officials.

Subramanium said it has become a fashion of the day to target the relatives of important politicians.

“Do you want to say you are so good that you don’t want to appear before the CBI,” the bench asked. It also said that it did not want to make an opinion about the merits of the case.