My son didn't influence FIPB decision: Chidambaram

Former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on Monday said his son Karti Chidambaram, against whom the CBI and ED have filed cases, never met any official connected with the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) nor did he influence the board by corrupt or illegal means.

"Anyone who has worked with me knows that no one would have dared to influence my decisions. I had never allowed any family member to speak to me or to any officer of my ministry on any official matter," he said in a statement.

"It is therefore preposterous to suggest that a member of my family, with or without my knowledge, influenced, by corrupt or illegal means, the six Secretaries who constituted the FIPB. Such an allegation is a despicable slur on the six Secretaries of the government who constituted the FIPB at the relevant time."

He said as far as the FIPB cases were concerned, he approved only those cases that were recommended by the FIPB and put up to me by the Secretary, Economic Affairs.

The CBI on May 16 raided the residences Chidambaram in Chennai, Delhi and other places alleging his son could have benefited to the tune of Rs 3.5 crore for helping in the clearance of an FIPB proposal of media company INX ltd when his father was the minister.