Karti Chidambaram

Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram’s son Karti Chidambaram has been accused of influencing public servants to help INX Media escape scrutiny and receiving payments in return.

However, the top court asked Karti to request the competent authority for postponement of Enforcement Directorate summons seeking his appearance on March 1.

ED's special public prosecutor Nitesh Rana said the accused was required to be confronted with various documents recovered during the probe which was at a very crucial stage.

The ED alleged that INX Media had deliberately and in violation of the conditions of the approval made a downstream investment of 26 per cent in the capital of INX News Pvt Ltd. without specific approval of FIPB.

They said Karti Chidambaram deposed before the investigating officer (IO) of the case as per the scheduled summons for today.

The CBI today claimed in the Madras High Court it has got leads on the "money trail" in an alleged corruption case against Karti Chidambaram leading to the UK and other European nations and there was "real danger" that his visit there would result in tampering with "incriminating" evidence.

The central probe agency had earlier summoned Karti on February 2 after which he informed them that he would be unable to depose as he has an interlocutory application pending in the Supreme Court in this case.

Official sources said Karti has been asked to depose before the investigating officer (IO) of the case on February 2.

Karti Chidambaram was summoned by the agency to appear before the Investigating Officer (IO) of the case.

Karti was summoned by the agency to appear before the Investigating Officer (IO) of the case today.

Official sources said that in response to the agency's second summons issued for yesterday, Karti Chidambaram's authorised representative appeared before the agency and replied to their queries.

The investigating officer (IO) of the case will record his statement in the case, they said.

Official sources said Karti has been called on January 11 and the investigating officer (IO) of the case will record his statement in the case.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud asked Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing CBI, to seek instruction on the issue and apprise it next Thursday.

Karti was called by the CBI to appear for questioning today in the case that pertains to a foreign investment clearance given by the FIPB to Global Communication Services Holdings Ltd for investing in Aircel.

The CBI claimed that a lookout notice was issued against Karti Chidambaram to prevent him from travelling abroad

The Central Bureau of Investigation had called Karti for questioning yesterday in connection with the foreign investment clearance given in the Aircel-Maxis deal in 2006 when his father Chidambaram was the finance minister.

The FIR lodged by the CBI on May 15 had alleged irregularities in Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance to INX Media for receiving overseas funds to the tune of Rs 305 crore in 2007 when Karti's father was the Finance Minister.

Karti arrived at the CBI headquarters here around 11.30 am and was questioned extensively till 6.30 pm.

Three suspected associates of Karti --Bhaskar Raman, Ravi Vishwanathan and Mohanan Rakesh -- are also being questioned today in connection with the case, the sources said.