The Supreme Court on Thursday issued contempt notice to two companies which Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy alleges are owned substantially and controlled by Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram’s son Karti Palaniappan Chidambaram.
Dr. Swamy’s petition accuses the companies of interfering with his pursuit of the 2G scam case.
Though he cited Mr. Chidambaram, Mr. Karti Chidambaram and C.B.N. Reddy as respondents, a Bench of Justices G.S. Singhvi and K.S. Singhvi issued notice only to the companies, returnable in 12 weeks.
Dr. Swamy said one of these companies, Advantage Strategic Consulting Singapore Pte Ltd., had arranged to file a defamation suit against him in a Singaporean court. The Bench told Dr. Swamy that notice was being issued only to the two companies.
Dr. Swamy said the purpose of the defamation suit was to obstruct the administration of justice in India. Defending this matter in Singapore would seriously impact his right and duty to pursue corruption and work towards a corruption-free India by filing public interest litigation petitions and argue as petitioner in person, Dr. Swamy said. This would have a chilling effect on his resolve to do so.
He prayed that proceedings be initiated under Section 15 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.
