P Chidambaram asks why six FIPB secretaries were not named in INX Media case

Former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on Saturday asked the government why it had not named six secretaries of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) if the 2007 clearance given to a media house for receiving foreign funds was wrong. The case involves his son Karti.

“If FIPB approval in a particular case was wrong, why does the CBI not name the six secretaries as accused? Is it because the six secretaries were persons of unimpeachable integrity,” Chidambaram tweeted.

If FIPB approval in a particular case was wrong, why does CBI not name the six secretaries as accused?

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) August 5, 2017

The Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation issued a lookout notice against Karti Chidambaram, the son of former Union finance minister P Chidambaram, in the INX media case. The latest development came after Karti did not appear for further interrogation in the INX media case despite the CBI issuing summons against the Congress leader.

On 16 May , CBI had raided Chidambaram’s Chennai residence, along with 13 other locations in Delhi, Gurugram, Mumbai and Chandigarh. The raids were purportedly related to a 2007-08 case of FIPB approval given to INX media at the behest of Chidambaram’s son, Karti.

While the clearance granted was only for Rs four crore, the actual foreign investment was reportedly much higher. An FIR was filed against Karti, Indrani Mukherjee and Peter Mukerjea, who owned INX media.

After the raid, Chidambaram accused the Centre of trying to silence his voice and targeting his son. Though the Congress leader did not name the case but it was obvious that he was referring to a CBI probe into the FIPB approval given to INX Media for allegedly receiving funds from Mauritius.

The CBI wants to question Karti in the case and has issued summons to him following allegations that a firm that was “indirectly controlled” by Chidambaram’s son received money from the media house.