After CBI, ED registers case against Karti Chidambaram, others

Following the Central Bureau of Investigation raids on the premises of former Union cabinet minister P Chidambaram, his son Karti, and others, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered a money laundering case against Karti Chidambaram, INX Media and its directors Peter and Indrani Mukerjea, and others, taking cognisance the CBI First Information Report against them.   

Officials said the ED registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), the ED equivalent of a police FIR, against the accused named in the CBI complaint.   

The ECIR has been registered under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Meanwhile Karti, who is under investigation for alleged bribery and corruption, on Thursday left for London on what his father described as a scheduled trip.

"Karti is travelling as per earlier travel plans. He will return after a few days. There is no ban on his travel," senior Congress leader P Chidambaram said.

The CBI on Tuesday had carried out searches at Karti's homes and offices in four cities to probe charges that he had received money from a media firm owned by Indrani and Peter Mukerjea (who are currently in jail in a murder case) to help them evade a tax probe. Karti Chidambaram has denied all charges against him. (See: CBI raids Chidambaram, Indrani, Peter Mukherjea over FIPB approvals to INX Media).

The CBI had filed an FIR against Karti and the Mukerjeas on charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating, receiving illegal gratification, influencing public servants and criminal misconduct.

It alleged that Karti received money from INX Media for using his influence to manipulate a tax probe against it in a case of violation of Foreign Investment Promotion Board conditions for an investment from Mauritius.  

They said the ED will probe the alleged "proceeds of crime" generated in this case and may also attach assets of the various accused.   

It was the ED, which had provided information about the alleged illegal payments made by INX media, based on which the CBI had filed its FIR.