The Enforcement Directorate has issued summons to Karti Chidambaram, son of former Union Finance Minister P. Chidamabram, in connection with its money laundering probe in the Aircel-Maxis deal.
Officials said the agency had issued a notice to Mr. Karti Chidambaram to present himself in person or through an authorised representative and submit personal financial documents and those related to a firm this week.
This is the first time that a notice has been issued to Mr. Karti Chidambaram in the case which is being investigated since 2015.
It is understood that Mr. Karti Chidambaram has now sought more time to comply.
The probe pertains to firms identified as Advantage Strategic Consulting Private Limited and Chess Management Services, where Mr. Karti Chidambaram had been a director, and a few others for alleged violations under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The agency, along with the I-T department, had conducted search and seizure operations on the business premises of Chess Management Services in Chennai in the presence of Mr. Karti Chidambaram in December 2015.
While Mr. Karti Chidambaram has denied any wrongdoing and has reiterated his cooperation with probe agencies, his father Mr. P. Chidambaram had accused the government of launching a “malicious onslaught” against his family.
“If the government wishes to target me, they should do so directly, not harass friends of my son who carry on their own businesses and have nothing to do with politics,” the Congress leader had said.
In August 2015, the ED had summoned two directors of a firm linked to Mr. Karti Chidambaram in connection with the probe.
The ED probe had found that Rs. 26 lakh has been allegedly sent from the firm to Aircel Televentures.
The Aircel-Maxis deal is being investigated by both the ED and the CBI and the case is a part of the overall probe in the 2G scam case.
An earlier version of this article named Karti Chidambaram's company as Chess Global Advisory Services. The company's name is Chess Management Services. The error is regretted.
