NEW DELHI: The CBI on Monday questioned former finance minister P Chidambaram’s son Karti for the second time in a week in connection with a graft case relating to irregular FIPB clearance given to INX Group for receiving FDI by the media concern.
Sources said Karti and three other accused in the case Ravi Viswanathan, Mohanan Rajesh and S Bhaskararaman were grilled separately. Karti, who turned up at 11.30 am, was questioned for seven hours after which he left at around 6.45 pm.
Their replies are being analysed. Based on the veracity of their answers a call will be taken to summon them again. If the versions of the accused persons are found to be at variance with each other they will be called again for questioning. They may be confronted with one another, sources said.
Viswanathan, Rajesh and Bhaskararaman are said to be associates of Karti.
Karti through his firm Chess Management allegedly facilitated the INX group in not paying any penalty despite violating the terms of the FIPB approval for FDI receipts. P Chidambaram was the finance minister at the Centre when the alleged violation happened. However, the CBI has not named the senior Chidambaram as an accused in the case.
The CBI had on May 15 registered a case under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and Prevention of Corruption Act against Karti, Chess Management, INX Media, Advantage Strategic Consulting Services, its director Padma Vishwanathan and others. The agency had subsequently searched the premises of the accused persons and entities.
The accused persons have been booked for criminal conspiracy and cheating under the IPC besides taking gratification by corrupt and illegal means to influence public servants and criminal misconduct under the Prevention of Corruption Act.