NEW DELHI: CBI on Monday approached the Supreme Court against the stay on look out circular issued by it by Madras High Court against Karti Chidambaram, son of former Union Minister P Chidambaram, in INX media FIPB irregularity case.
The circular against Karti had been issued to all airports to prevent him from travelling abroad.
Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the bench headed by Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justice D Y Chandrachud that Madras High Court had no jurisdiction to entertain Karti's petition as FIR was registered in Delhi and that search warrants were issued in Delhi, so High Court cannot have jurisdiction over the case.
CBI also questioned High Court order of permitting Karti Chidambaram to go abroad and said, “Karti Chidambaram was asked not to go abroad as probe pending against him in INX media FIPB irregularity case.”
"Stay on the circular would hamper investigations," CBI plea said.
The bench agreed to hear the case this afternoon.
The case pertains to an FIR filed on May 15, against Karti and INX Media along with eight others for the alleged irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance given to the media house for foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2007.
Madras High Court had while staying the circular had pointed out the unnecessary urgency by the investigating agency in issuing the LoC and pointed out that on June 15 Karti had been asked to appear before authorities on June 29, but on June 16 itself the circular was issued.
Centre had told the court that after the experience of liquor baron Vijay Mallya leaving India, it has become imperative for it to issue the look out circular against him
The court, however, made it clear that Karti should give advance intimation to authorities about his foreign trips.