CBI: 'Karti Chidambaram influenced public servants in INX media case'

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), in a charge sheet filed in the INX Media case, has revealed that former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram's son Karti Chidambaram influenced public servants to extend favours to the INX Media and also used false invoices as a genuine document to demand an illegal gratification of Rs 10 lakh from the company. 

Indrani Mukerjea pardoned

The CBI filed the charge sheet before a special court against fourteen accused, including P Chidambaram, Karti Chidambaram, his accountant, INX Media, its former director Peter Mukerjea, Chess Management Services Private Limited, ASCPL and a number of bureaucrats. Indrani Mukerjea, who was the former INX Media director, was, however, pardoned after she turned approver in the case and her name was not mentioned in the charge sheet as an accused. The court will take cognizance of the charge sheet on October 21.

Indrani and Peter met P Chidambaram in his office

The charge sheet revealed that Indrani Mukerjea and Peter Mukerjea met P Chidambaram in his office in the North Block regarding the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approval to INX Media Private Limited and INX News Private Limited and during the meeting, the then finance minister demanded illegal gratification from them in the form of overseas payoffs for himself. He also demanded that the business interest of his son Karti be taken care of in lieu of FIPB approval, the charge sheet stated.

ED gets custody

Earlier on Thursday, the ED had been granted custody of former Finance Minister P Chidambaram by a Delhi court till 24 October. His judicial custody in connection with the CBI case of the matter has also been extended till the same date. The ED will conduct custodial interrogation of Chidambaram in the INX Media case. The court had on Wednesday issued a production warrant against Chidambaram in the INX Media money laundering case lodged by Enforcement Directorate.

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INX Media case and Chidambaram

The CBI had registered an FIR on May 15, 2017, alleging irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance granted to the INX Media group for receiving overseas funds of Rs 305 crore in 2007 during Chidambaram's tenure as the Finance Minister. Thereafter, the Enforcement Directorate had lodged a money laundering case in this regard in 2017. Chidambaram was first arrested by the CBI in connection with the INX Media case on August 22 from his New Delhi residence. He is in judicial custody in Tihar Jail after a Delhi Court dismissed his plea seeking to surrender to the ED in the money laundering case of INX Media. 

READ | ED gets Chidambaram's custody till October 24 in INX Media case

READ | INX Media case: ED arrests P Chidambaram after 2-hr grilling at Tihar

(With ANI inputs)