Karti Chidambaram Appears Before ED Once Again in Chinese Visa Money Laundering Case
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 2nd Jan. Congress MP Karti Chidambaram appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) once again on Tuesday for questioning in a money laundering case related to the issuance of visas to Chinese nationals in 2011.
The 52-year-old legislator from Sivaganga Lok Sabha seat in Tamil Nadu had previously been questioned on December 23 last year, and his statement was recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
He appeared before the investigating officer at the ED headquarters in central Delhi.
The money laundering case, filed under the PMLA, originated from a CBI FIR. The investigation revolves around allegations of Karti and his associate S Bhaskararaman receiving kickbacks of Rs 50 lakh from a top executive of Vedanta group company Talwandi Sabo Power Ltd. (TSPL), which was setting up a power plant in Punjab.
The CBI claims that the project was being executed by a Chinese company and was running behind schedule.
An executive from TSPL allegedly exchanged Rs 50 lakh for the re-issuance of project visas for 263 Chinese workers.
The CBI had previously raided the Chidambaram family’s premises and arrested Bhaskararaman while Karti was being questioned.
Karti has dismissed the ED probe as a “fishing and roving” enquiry and has submitted documents to the agency in the past. He has called the case “most bogus” and denied facilitating any Chinese nationals in their visa process. He said that the case is an attempt to target his father, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, through him.
This is the third money laundering case against Karti, with the INX Media and Aircel-Maxis cases also being investigated by the ED for several years.
