New Delhi: Congress MP Karti Chidambaram’s home and offices were searched by the CBI over allegations of ‘bribe-for-visas’. Seven premises linked to Karti Chidambaram – the son of former Union Minister P Chidambaram – and his associates were searched across Chennai, Mumbai, Odisha, and Delhi, sources said.
The investigation agency has registered a fresh case against Karti Chidambaram, sources say, accusing him of receiving ₹ 50 lakh as a bribe to facilitate the visa of 263 Chinese nationals for a power project in Punjab between 2010-14. He is named “Accused No 2”.
The CBI also searched P Chidambaram’s 80 Lodhi Estate home in Delhi, questioned the staff, and took some documents, sources said.
“There was a total of seven members in the CBI team. Karti Chidambaram was not at his residence during the raid at 7.30 am,” said Birbal Singh, the security guard posted at his house.
“I have lost count, how many times has it been? Must be a record,” Karti Chidambaram tweeted shortly after news of the raids emerged.
Karti Chidambaram is being investigated in several cases, including his alleged role in facilitating Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance to INX Media for receiving ₹ 305 in foreign funds when his father P Chidambaram was the Finance Minister.
He was arrested by CBI in February 2018, and he was granted bail after a month in March.
