CBI raids residences of P Chidambaram, son Karti

Chennai/New Delhi: The CBI on Tuesday launched searches at multiple premises linked to former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram in connection with alleged favours granted in FIPB clearance to a firm.

Official sources said in Delhi that the searches were spread across Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, and Gurugram.

The raids are also taking place at the Nungambakkam residence of P Chidambaram in Chennai, a senior police official said in Chennai.

Unconfirmed reports said the raids were also on at Karaikudi, the hometown of Chidambaram.

The agency has yesterday registered a case regarding Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance given to INX Media, run by its directors Indrani Mukerjea and Peter Mukerjea, in 2007 which it is alleged that favours were given when P Chidambaram was the Finance Minister.

The agency has registered the case against INX Media through its director Indrani Mukerjea, Peter Mukerjea, Karti Chidambaram, Chess Management Services (a company of Karti), Advantage Strategic Consulting Limited through its Director Padma Vishwanathan.

It has levelled the charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating and taking gratification by corrupt or illegal means, to influence public servant and criminal misconduct.

Asked about the raids, the former union minister said, "You should have called your CBI friends...Should I stop writing ? (against the government)."

"I mean...(this is) absolute nonsense," Chidambaram told PTI adding he was not in Chennai.

He also said there are no allegations against him

Chidambaram, a staunch critic of the Narendra Modi-led BJP regime, has said in the past that his voice against the Centre cannot be silenced by launching cases against him or his son Karti, also a Congress leader.