The Enforcement Directorate has filed a charge sheet against P Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram in connection with the INX Media case.
People who know the developments told HT that the charge sheet was filed on Monday in the court of special CBI judge Ajay Kumar. He named both father and son, alleging that they were benefitting from the ownership of several shell firms that were incorporated in India and abroad in connection with a Foreign Investment Promotion Board. This approval was given to INX Media group when Chidambaram was Union Finance Minister.
ED had alleged earlier during court hearings, “for FIPB approval, Peter and Indrani Mukerjea (then owners of INX) met P Chidambaram so that there was no hold up or delay in their application. P Chidambaram asked for his son’s business interests to be kept in mind. ED identified payments of Rs 3.09 crore by Peter Mukerjea to ASCPL (Advantage Strategic Consultancy Pvt Ltd) and associated entities controlled by Karti P Chidambaram through manipulated debit notes.”
The agency also alleged, “During investigation, it was admitted that debit notes were raised on the directions of Karti Chidambaram to show some transaction which in fact did not occur.” The money was channelled back into ASCPL.
The agency said, “The funds received by ASCPL were invested and ASCPL also purchased shares of Vasan Health Care. A part of these shares was sold at a profit of nearly Rs 41 crore. ASCPL also earned Rs.18.49 crore from sale of shares in another company for an amount of Rs 29.49 crore. These funds arising from sale of laundered property is also property involved in money laundering.”
ED attached properties worth Rs 54 crore allegedly belonging to Karti in Spain, UK and India. Indrani gave a statement to HT where she claimed that US dollars 5 million and US dollars 4,50,000 were transferred in overseas account of Congress leader in 2007 and 2009 respectively after getting money from INX’s foreign investors while a cash payment of Rs 1 crore was made to Karti in Delhi in 2009.”
When Karti Chidambaram was contacted by HT, he said, “I will not comment until something is served to me formally.”
