Karti Chidambaram moved Delhi HC for anticipatory bail

This comes just a day after CBI judge MK Nagpal of the Rouse Avenue Court denied relief to Karti, S Bhaskararaman, and Vikas Makharia, citing the seriousness of the offence.

On Saturday, Congress MP Karti P Chidambaram applied to the Delhi High Court for anticipatory bail in a case filed by the Enforcement Directorate in the alleged Chinese visa scam. The hearing for the plea has been scheduled for Monday before Justice Poonam A Bamba.

This comes just a day after CBI judge MK Nagpal of the Rouse Avenue Court denied relief to Karti, S Bhaskararaman. And Vikas Makharia, citing the seriousness of the offence. The court denied bail because of Karti Chidambaram and S Bhaskararaman’s alleged involvement in the INX Media and Aircel Maxis cases.

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It also revoked the interim protection from arrest granted to the accused. During the pendency of the anticipatory bail application. And directed them to join the investigation as and when the investigating officer calls them.

The court determined that any additional interim protection for the accused would seriously impede the investigation’s process and progress.

Karti was represented in the case by senior advocate Kapil Sibal, advocate Arshdeep Singh, and advocate Prateek Chadda. The ED filed a case against Karti and others in the alleged visa scam involving 263 Chinese nationals in 2011. When his father, P Chidambaram, was the home minister.

Case Under PMLA

The ED has filed a criminal case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Based on a recent First Information Report filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation in the case.

Karti is accused of receiving illegal gratification of Rs 50 lakh in exchange for illegally facilitating visas for 263 Chinese nationals to complete a power project in Punjab.

According to the CBI, Karti misused his influence’ in the home ministry in 2011 and ‘conspired’ with co-accused to devise a “back-door way to defeat the purpose of the ministry’s ceiling” on work permits.

Other defendants named include Karti’s chartered accountant Bhaskararaman, Makharia, a representative of Talwandi Sabo Power Ltd, a Mansa-based private company, and Bell Tools, Mumbai. In addition, the FIR mentions “unknown public servants and private individuals.”

Karti recently issued a statement in which he stated that he is not directly or indirectly involved in a visa case.

“I have no relationship whatsoever with any of the corporate entities mentioned in the FIR in. Which I have been named as an accused. I’m neither aware of them. Nor have I ever been associated with them or any of their representatives in any manner. I say with certainty that I have never facilitated even a single Chinese national in their visa process. Let alone 250”. Said Karti.