The CBI had asked for a 14-day remand.
Karti Chidambaram, arrested in the INX Media case, was today remanded to five days of CBI custody by a Delhi court.
Special Judge Sunil Rana extended Karti's custody till March 6 after the CBI contended that there were "very shocking evidences" of what he has done when he went abroad and alleging "when he went abroad, he closed bank accounts in which funds were received".
The court also allowed K Chidambaram’s lawyer to meet him twice a day while he was in CBI custody. The court also said that he would be provided medicines on production of prescription but turned down his demand for home-cooked food.
Karti was produced before the court on expiry of one-day CBI custody amidst the presence of his parents P Chidambaram and Nalini Chidambaram, both senior advocates, and were seen talking to him.
Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for CBI, maintained that this was "not a case of political vendetta" and the investigation was going on in accordance with Article 21 of the Constitution.
"There are very shocking evidences of what Karti did when he went abroad," he said, adding that "when he went abroad, he closed bank accounts in which funds were received".
The CBI produced Karti Chidambaram, arrested in the INX Media case, before a Delhi court after the expiry of his one-day custody and sought extension of his custody by 14 days. He was produced before Special Judge Sunil Rana who is hearing the demand of the agency seeking Karti's 14 days custodial interrogation. Karti's mother Nalini Chidambaram, who is also a senior advocate, was seen sitting with him in the court. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi is leading the team of advocates for Karti.
Arguing for CBI, Tushar Mehta said that Karti is not cooperating with the probe and hasn't answered to questions posed to him. Mehta claims that CBI is in possession of invoices recovered after raiding premises of Advantage Strategic. Those have been given to the court. Regarding Indrani Mukerjea's claims, Mehta said that there are records available and everything is corroborated with evidences. There were mails subsequent to Mukerjeas meeting with Karti giving directions, claims CBI.
Taking a brief break from the hearing, Karti Chidambaram was also seen speaking with his parents after court granted permission. P Chidambaram told his son, " Be strong and brave".
CBI had yesterday sought 15 days custody of Karti for his interrogation but the duty magistrate had remanded him to one-day police custody.
Karti was arrested yesterday at Chennai Airport on his return from the United Kingdom in connection with the FIR lodged on May 15 last year alleging irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance to INX Media for receiving overseas funds to the tune of Rs 305 crore in 2007 when his father P Chidambaram was the union finance minister.
The CBI said: “Interrogation has only taken place for a short time. He did appear for interrogation, but remained evasive. Custodial interrogation is completely different.”
The CBI added: “There is clear evidence of links between Karti Chidambaram and various companies. We have emails and invoices indicating money was given to Advantage Strategic Consultancy Private Limited (ASCPL) in the time period when INX media received favours.”
Reacting to the allegations, Karti’s counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi said: “There is no ground for custodial interrogation. How can CBI claim non-cooperation when they haven't issued summons? All documents are in their possession.”
Meanwhile, WION News reported that Finance Minister P Chidambaram would also be questioned
Delhi’s Patiala House Court also reserved order its bail plea of Karti Chidambaram’s CA and he will stay in jail till 7th March
Karti was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday and thereafter sent to one-day police custody, as against 15 day-custody sought by the CBI.
In May 2017, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had registered a money laundering case against Karti for his role in facilitating clearance from the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB)for INX Media Ltd and its directors, Peter and Indrani Mukerjea - both accused in the murder of Sheena Bora -and others.
Karti has been accused of illegally taking service charges for obtaining FIPB clearance to the INX Media for receiving funds from abroad worth Rs 305 crore in 2007 when his father was the finance minister in the Congress-led UPA Government.
The arrest of senior Congress leader P Chidambaram's son Karti Chidambaram led to a political slugfest between the Congress and the BJP.
While the Congress accused the BJP-led government of indulging in "political vendetta" and using the arrest as a "tactic" to divert attention from banking and other scams, the saffron party rejected the charge, saying there was no interference from the government and the law was taking its own course.
Congress communications in-charge Randeep Surjewala said it was a classic diversionary tactic to hide "corruption scams, mal-governance and mal-administration that have marred this government".
"The Congress party will not be deterred by the unleashing of vendetta against P Chidambaram or his family. We will continue to speak the truth. We will continue to expose the (Narendra) Modi government s corruption and continue to hold them accountable to the people of the country," he told reporters here.
"To divert attention and distract the narrative, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government are following their old trick of using a political witch-hunt, vendetta and malicious intent to deflect the heat from the unprecedented bank scams and loss to the public exchequer caused by the culture of crony capitalism," Surjewala alleged.
Countering the charge, Law Minister and BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said the nature of evidence available against the offender must speak for itself and not the claim of revenge.
"...I will only make one observation. When such issues are raised, what is important is that the nature of evidence available against the offender must speak for itself and not the alibi of vendetta," he told reporters here.
Karti, 46, was arrested by a CBI team this morning on his return from London in connection with its probe in the INX Media case.
Prasad said there was no interference from the government and that the law must take its course.
"The law is taking its course. The law must take its course. The CBI will explain all the details. We do not wish to interfere. There is no interference of the government," he said.
With inputs from PTI
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