Karti Chidambaram arrest: CBI a ‘captive puppet’ of government, says Congress

February 28, 2018 10:29 pm | Updated 10:29 pm IST - New Delhi

Bengaluru: Congress Spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala addresses a press conference at KPCC office in Bengaluru on Tuesday. PTI Photo (PTI2_27_2018_000092B)

Bengaluru: Congress Spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala addresses a press conference at KPCC office in Bengaluru on Tuesday. PTI Photo (PTI2_27_2018_000092B)

Describing the arrest of Karti Chidambaram as “political persecution” of his father and former Minister P. Chidambaram and his family, the Congress on Wednesday accused the CBI of being “a captive puppet” of the Modi government to carry out political vendetta against opponents.

The former Finance Minister, who landed in London this morning to deliver a lecture barely a couple of hours after his son was detained by the CBI, has cut short his visit and is on his way back to New Delhi.

The party, however, backed Mr. Chidambaram and his son, and alleged that the move was an attempt by the government to divert attention from financial scams of more than ₹31,000 crore “exposed” in the past 10 days.

‘Diversionary tactic’

“Classical diversionary tactic to hide scams and colossal corruption that is being exposed on a daily basis, be it Nirav Modi, be it Mehul Choksi, be it Rotomac or Dwarkadas jewellers. Prime Minister Modi is yet to make the transition from maun (silent) Modi to bol (speak) Modi. The government’s mask of being a crusader against corruption lies in a shambles,” said Congress’s communications head Randeep Surjewala at a party briefing.

The case against Karti Chidamabaram relates to allegations of bribery to help a media company get foreign investment clearance when his father was the Finance Minister, in May 2007.

“At the relevant time, the FIPB [Foreign Investment Promotion Board] was chaired by D. Subbarao, an economist with impeccable credentials, who later became the Governor of Reserve Bank of India. This collective decision of the FIPB is submitted to the Finance Minister for approval, and he grants approval in normal course. Till date, the CBI has not questioned either the Chairman or any member of the FIPB, nor any motives have been attributed to any individual granting the permission,” Mr. Surjewala said.

He said the investigating agency had examined a Joint Secretary-level officer, who had “unequivocally stated that the FIPB approval was given without any influence”.

“The Congress will not be deterred by unleashing of vendetta against Mr. P. Chidamabaram and his family. We will continue to bring out the truth. We will continue to bring out cases of corruption,” Mr. Surjewala said.

Senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot said on Twitter: “Mr. Karti Chidambaram was arrested when he landed at Chennai airport, he was not trying to escape from India like Nirav Modi, then arresting him on his arrival at airport is funny. Karti Chidambaram was cooperating with the CBI, the CBI could have summoned him.”

Senior lawyer and Congress leader Kapil Sibal, who had represented Karti in the Supreme Court earlier, called his arrest “malafide” while Abhishek Manu Singhvi tweeted about double standards. “Fantastic double standards. Amazing selectivity. Nirav; Lalit and Mallya not stopped from fleeing; Karti arrested on arrival, returning after repeated foreign trips. Few lakhs become 80 crore in few months in Jai Ho case, no raid no arrest,” he said.

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