A Delhi court has summoned Congress MP Karti Chidambaram and several others in connection with a money laundering case related to an alleged Chinese visa scam. Special Judge M K Nagpal issued the summons after taking cognizance of a charge sheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
The individuals summoned include Karti Chidambaram, his former chartered accountant S Bhaskararaman, and six others, including representatives of several companies. They have been directed to appear before the court on April 5.
The accused in the case also include Padam Dugar, Vikas Makharia, Mansoor Siddiqi, Dugar Housing Ltd, Advantage Strategic Consulting Pvt Ltd, and Talwandi Sabo Power Ltd.
The ED initiated a money laundering case against the accused in connection with an alleged visa scam involving the issuance of visas to 263 Chinese nationals in 2011, during the tenure of Karti Chidambaram's father, P Chidambaram, as the Union home minister.
According to the ED, the exact amount of money laundered in the case is yet to be determined. The agency noted that the alleged payment of a bribe of Rs 50 lakh, as mentioned in the CBI case, cannot be considered the basis of the present case.
The ED registered the case under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after taking note of an FIR filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the same matter.
The summoning of Karti Chidambaram and others marks a significant development in the ongoing investigation into the alleged visa scam. The court's decision to take cognizance of the ED's charge sheet underscores the seriousness of the allegations and the legal proceedings surrounding the case.
As the case unfolds, it will be closely watched to determine the extent of involvement of the accused and the outcome of the legal proceedings.
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