PThe Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday moved for custodial interrogation of former Finance Minister P Chidambaram's son Karti in Aircel-Maxis probe.
In its detailed petition in the 2G Special Court, the ED charged Karti with being evasive in replying to questions and delaying his appearance, citing that the interim protection granted by the trial court is totally misused by him. After hearing the arguments of Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and Karti's advocates, the Special Judge OP Saini sought replies from Karti by September 18.
Detailing the various incidents of Karti's evasive and aggressive nature during the questioning and delaying tactics, ASG Tushar Mehta argued that the agency must need the custodial interrogation of Karti. Mehta informed the trial judge OP Saini that Karti was totally misusing the interim protection granted by the trial court and said that the agency is going to approach SC for getting more time for completion of the probe.
As per the Supreme Court, CBI and ED have to finish the probe by September 12. "We need his custodial interrogation. He is totally evasive to basic questions. He is not answering to questions like is this email send by him or not," said Mehta, reiterating that Karti was misusing the interim protection granted by Judge OP Saini.
In the petition, ED said that Karti is arguing his "right of silence" during questioning. "Whenever he was confronted with the documents, he showed his irritation, sometimes anger and then conveniently avoided to answer the questions on one pretext or the other," said ED narrating the tantrums played by Karti due to interim protection from arrest granted by Judge OP Saini.