CHENNAI: On behalf of Karti, son of former Union Minister P Chidambaram, his power of attorney NRR Arun Natarajan has moved Madras High Court to quash the summons of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and consequently, restrain the ED from taking any step or action or proceedings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
When the petition came up on Thursday, Additional Solicitor General G Rajagopalan told Justice B Rajendran that the Court has no jurisdiction to hear the matter as it related to the 2G scam, which was pending before the Supreme Court.
In the petition, the PoA submitted that the EC originally issued summons dated June 21 requiring Karti or his representative to appear before it on July 5 along with a schedule of information. Karti’s office submitted a reply on July 2. Another summons was issued on July 5 asking Karti to appear on July 18. It was also responded to by a reply.
While so, Karti received third summons dated August 19, requiring him alone to appear before the EC on August 31. Again a reply was sent on August 29.
Petitioner contended that the summons were motivated by malice in law and in facts. He has reason to believe that there is a determined campaign to bring discredit and harm to the reputation of his father Chidambaram, who is now a leading member of the Opposition. The ED was conducting a fishing and roving enquiry and not an investigation. Karti had not been named either as an accused, suspect or witness in any case. To the best of his information, no investigating agency of the Union government had registered any case relating to a ‘scheduled offence’ under the PMLA in which he has been named.
The matter was adjourned to September 29.
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