The enforcement directorate has filed fresh charge sheet against former Finance Minister P Chidambaram’s son Karti Chidambaram today at Delhi’s Patiala House Court. According to reports, four other associates in his different business ventures are also charged under section 4 of Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
Aircel-Maxis case: ED names Ravi Viswanathan&Padma – Directors of Advantage Strategic Consultancy Ltd, Karti Chidambaram, Advantage Strategic Consultancy Pvt Ltd, Annamalai Palaniappan – Director Chess Mgmt Services Pvt Ltd&Chess Mgmt Services Pvt Ltd in charge sheet filed today.
— ANI (@ANI) June 13, 2018
According to reports, although P Chidambaram is named at various places in the charge sheet, he has not been named as an accused yet. The ED has reportedly stated that it might file a supplementary charge sheet in the case too. Additional sessions judge Ruby Alka Gupta reportedly set July 4th as the next date when the court will consider the charge sheet.
The current case reportedly pertains to FIPB clearances issued to the Global Communications Holding Services Ltd for investment in Aircel. The case emerged out of the 2G spectrum scandal investigations.
Karti was arrested by the CBI in the Chennai airport earlier this year in relation to the INX media scam. He was accused of taking bribes for getting private firms FIPB clearance when his father was the finance minister. Karti’s father P Chidambaram has already been questioned by the ED twice over his involvement in the Aircel Maxis case. The Patiala House Court has granted P Chidambaram an interim protection from arrest by the ED till July 10th.
The Chidambarams, including Karti’s wife and mother, are also under investigation by the Income Tax department over allegations of undisclosed foreign assets. Last month, the Income Tax department had filed multiple cases against them under the black money act.