Karti Chidamabaram, son of senior Congress leader P Chidamabaram, was granted bail by the Delhi High Court on a surety of Rupees 10 lakh. He was arrested on charges of corruption in INX Media case on Friday. According to the details, Karti was required to furnish a bail bond of Rupees Ten lakh to get bail.
The verdict was passed by Justice SP Garg who had reserved his verdict on March 16 after hearing all arguments pertaining to Karti’s case and the CBI, which had opposed granting of bail for him.
The order was delivered by Justice SP Garg who had reserved his verdict on 16 March after hearing arguments on behalf of Karti and the CBI, which had opposed grant of the relief to him.
The CBI had maintained that Karti should not be availed a bail due to him destroying the evidence in the case and also that he is an “influential” person.
Karti’s lawyer argued that his client was not booked under any case related to Prevention of Corruption Act due to the fact CBI had neither questioned any public servant, nor made them accused in the matter.
Alongside the argument, Karti’s lawyer had also denied allegations of tampering with evidence, and said that when CBI itself did not seek his custodial interrogation, how can he be in confined in judicial custody.
They noted that none other than Karti was arrested in the corruption case, and CBI has targeted Karti to put him behind bars.
The lawyers of Karti further said that the CBI wsa trying to create connection between their client and a private company, namely, Advantage Strategic Consulting Pvt Ltd, which is in accused of receiving bribe amount of Rs 10 lakh, despite the fact that he was not at all related.
Karti Chidamabaram was arrested in Chennai on February 28 by the CBI after he returned from the United Kingdom in connection with an FIR lodged on May 15 last year, in which it was alleged that there were irregularities in a Foreign Investment Promotion Board clearance given to INX Media for funds to be received to the tune of 305 crore from overseas in the year 2007 at a time when his father was the Union Finance Minister.
At the initial stage, the CBI alleged that Karti accepted Rs 10 lakh as a bribe for helping FIPB clearance to INX Media. Then after the allegation, the agency revised the figure to USD 1 Million which converts into some RS 6.50 crore as per the current exchange rate and it was Rs 4.5 crore in the year 2007.
The evidence which triggered the arrest of Karti was based on a statement of Indrani Mukerjea, former director of INX Media (P) Ltd, who recorded it under Section 164 of the CrPC before a magistrate on 17 February. Indrani is currently jailed in a Mumbai prison in connection with the case of murder of her daughter Sheena Bora.
Karti will have to seek legal help to prove his innocence if the case is such that he is being framed.
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