Charges against son baseless: Chidambaram

Former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Monday described as “baseless” the charge that his son Karti had influenced the working of the erstwhile Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB).

The Congress leader also alleged that leaks and insinuations had been deliberately fed to a section of the media against his son.

“It is clear that I am the target, and yet the FIR does not name me. The FIR alleges that there was a conspiracy involving public officials who were induced by corrupt and illegal means to grant the approval, yet the FIR does not name a single public official,” he said.

In a statement issued here on Monday, Chidambaram said anyone familiar with the working of the FIPB knows that no single officer can take a decision on any proposal.

“I had never allowed any family member to speak to me or to any officer of my Ministry on any official matter. It is therefore preposterous to suggest that a member of my family, with or without my knowledge, influenced, by corrupt or illegal means, the six secretaries who constituted the FIPB. Such an allegation is a despicable slur on the six Secretaries of the government who constituted the FIPB at the relevant time,” Chidambaram said.

Meanwhile, the government said Chidambaram can argue his case in the court of law. Last fortnight, the CBI filed an FIR against Karti and INX Media founders Indrani and Peter Mukerjea on charges of criminal conspiracy, cheating, receiving illegal gratification, influencing public servants and criminal misconduct.

“Chidambaram is also a senior advocate in the country. This is just an FIR. He has time to argue his case in the court of law. However, as of now there is no specific denial from Chidambaram on the issues raised in the FIR. He has issued a general statement. I would like to make it clear that our government does not believe in vendetta politics. Our government works with integrity,” Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said.

Chidambaram’s statement added that Karti Chidambaram never met any officer connected with the FIPB.

“Besides, he had no connection with the applicant company (INX Media/INX News). Further, Karti Chidambaram was never a director or shareholder of M/s Advantage Strategic Consulting Pvt Ltd. The promoters/directors of ASCPL have, on more than one occasion, made it clear that ASCPL is their company and they alone are responsible for the business of that company. They are business friends of Karti Chidambaram and have normal relations that are common among business friends,” Chidambaram claimed.