Congress MP Karti P Chidambaram on Tuesday appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with an alleged money laundering case related to the issuance of Chinese visas. Following his appearance, Karti referred to the process as a ‘futile exercise’ and labeled it routine, indicating the approaching Lok Sabha elections as a possible reason for the repeated questioning.
“These are routine drills with the (Lok Sabha) elections now approaching. There’s not much else to it. I have answered many summonses before. This was just a repeat of what I had already done before. It’s a futile exercise,” said the Congress MP.
Karti had previously appeared before the ED for questioning on December 23 of the previous year. The money laundering case is linked to allegations that Karti received Rs 50 lakh to facilitate visas for 263 Chinese nationals, enabling them to work on a power project in Punjab.
The Enforcement Directorate filed the money laundering case in May of the previous year as part of the Chinese visa ‘scam.’ The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had alleged that Karti ‘misused his influence’ in the Ministry of Home Affairs in 2011 and conspired with co-accused to devise a “back-door way to defeat the purpose of the ceiling” on work permits imposed by the ministry.
In addition to Karti, the CBI booked four other individuals, including Karti’s chartered accountant S. Bhaskararaman, Vikas Makharia (a representative of Talwandi Sabo Power Ltd, a Mansa-based private company), and Bell Tools, Mumbai. The case also involves ‘unknown public servants and private individuals.’
