Madhav Das Nalapat, the Editor of Sunday Guardian has made shocking claims on how Karti Chidambaram and his father P Chidambaram have established deep networks in the bureaucracy. These networks had helped them run their ‘shady’ dealings according to the Sunday Guardian article published today. Mr Nalapat claimed that Karti Chidambaram’s wealth could give Warren Buffet a pause. Warren Buffet is a well-known billionaire and investment guru in the USA.
several who are seen as being part of the “Chidambaram Clique” have retained important responsibilities during the present NDA dispensation, and indeed have been promoted to much higher posts.
— Madhav Das Nalapat (@MD_Nalapat) March 4, 2018
In addition to this Mr Nalapat claimed that these bureaucrats continued to rise under the NDA government. Nalapat goes on to say that former colleagues of Raghuram Rajan had accused that Rajan had tipped off Chidambaram about developments in the Aircel Maxis case. Raghuram Rajan had served as the RBI governor from 2013 till 2016.
A Lutyens favourite, Rajan is accused by former colleagues in the RBI of having tipped off the former Finance Minister about queries made to them by the Enforcement Directorate on the Aircel-Maxis case.
— Madhav Das Nalapat (@MD_Nalapat) March 4, 2018
Nalapat also alleged that a Chidambaram loyalist, C.B. Bhave had been appointed as SEBI Chairman at a time when Bhave was being investigated in the NSDL scam. ‘Naturally, this “investigation” went nowhere’, says Mr Nalapat.
Thus far, the former Union Finance Minister has led a charmed life, although there have been scattered accusations, including of allegedly standing by, especially during 1996-97, as poppy growers grew more than they needed, the balance getting sold to the narcotics trade.
— Madhav Das Nalapat (@MD_Nalapat) March 4, 2018
In his series of tweets, Mr Nalapat highlighted that Chidambaram had allegedly acquired lands on the Chennai beach with the alleged assistance of Shaktikanta Das. Das retired as a top bureaucrat in finance ministry under NDA regime.
Earlier, the senior Chidambaram’s associates were accused of having taken over land at a throwaway value in a coastal area near Chennai, land that belonged to poor fishermen. This was allegedly “facilitated” by the then Revenue Secy to the Tamil Nadu government, Saktikanta Das.
— Madhav Das Nalapat (@MD_Nalapat) March 4, 2018
Mr Nalapat went on to say that no serious investigations had been conducted about land deals and none might be initiated in future as well judging by the record of probe agencies in the past.
No serious investigation into lands in urban conurbations of Tamil Nadu transferred to Chidambaram’s family and associates while he was in high office has thus far been conducted, nor is any likely, judging by the record of the probe agencies thus far.
In his article, Mr Nalapat claims that P Chidambaram could also be the choice for PM position if UPA were to head a coalition in 2019. He concluded his article with the following lines which claimed that both foes and friends of Chidambaram would be watching further developments in the case involving his son.
Given Chidambaram’s record of assisting friends and annihilating foes, both sets of individuals will be watching the immediate fortunes of this urbane and ruthless politician from the South with unwavering attention.