Karti Chidambaram dares government, CBI in SC to reveal his undisclosed assets

Karti’s challenge came after the CBI told the apex court that it has furnished details about his “possible transactions” in foreign countries and 25 alleged offshore properties in a sealed cover. The affidavit filed by Karti before a bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud said if he was found guilty of possessing undisclosed assets, then he would give them to the government.

Maintaining that “the wild and reckless” allegations were being made against him, he said “my father, my mother, my wife and I are income tax assessees for many years.

All our assets and liabilities are fully disclosed.”

“If the government or any of its agencies is of the view that any one of us has undisclosed assets anywhere in the world, I would like to ask the government to make a list of those alleged undisclosed assets and we will execute any document necessary to transfer those assets (allegedly undisclosed) in favour of the government so that the government will become the owner of those alleged undisclosed assets,” he said in the affidavit.

Earlier, the CBI told the Supreme Court that it has furnished details in a sealed cover on the probe in a corruption case about ‘possible transactions’ in foreign countries and 25 alleged offshore properties of Karti Chidambaram.

The FIR, lodged by the 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.

Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the CBI, told a bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra that investigation in the case was at a “crucial stage” and they have placed all details in a sealed cover.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Karti, opposed Mehta’s submissions, saying “wild and baseless” allegations have been levelled against his client and these purported issues have nothing to do with the lookout circular (LOC) issued against him. Countering Sibal’s submissions, Mehta said, “what does this sealed cover contain?

Possible transactions that have emerged in the investigation so far in foreign countries and 25 foreign properties of Karti.”

The bench said it would take up the matter for final disposal on September 18.