The CBI on Monday yet again interrogated former Finance Minister P Chidambaram's son Karti for eight hours in connection with the kickbacks from INX Media for FIPB approvals. The agency has told Karti that he would have to appear again if any response was needed on the answers given by him. As the CBI has not given him any fixed date, the look Out Circular issued to prevent Karti from flying out of the country will be extended.
Ravi Visawnathan, Bhaskararaman and Mohanan Rajesh, the Directors of Karti's companies Chess Management Services and Advantage Strategic Consulting, were also questioned by the CBI on Monday.
According to sources, the CBI is expected to verify the answers given by Karti by responding to over 100 questions asked by the investigating agency in the previous interrogation session on August 23. Karti was forced to appear before the CBI on Supreme Court's direction. The SC had quashed the order of the Madras High Court which had temporarily suspended the look Out Circular issued by CBI. The next hearing of the case in Supreme Court is scheduled on September 1.
Sources said that the answers given by Karti and other Directors were not at all convincing and their answers for accepting around Rs 5 crore from INX Media was not found correct. It is expected that the agency may summon Chidambaram and officials who worked in FIPB in 2007 after verifying the answers given by Karti. The Enforcement Directorate is also expected to summon Karti soon.
The CBI charged Karti with accepting around Rs. Five crore bribe for providing illegal FIPB clearance to INX media, owned by Peter Mukherjea and Indrani, in 2007. The media company initially got approval to receive only Rs. Five crore as foreign investment. But Income Tax department found thatthe INX media illegally got Rs.300 crore as foreign investment and issued notice. After getting notice from Income Tax, Peter and Indrani sought Karti's help and the FIPB, under Chidambaram, allegedly provided an illegal post-facto clearance to INX Media to save it from Income-Tax Department’s action.