AMN / New Delhi
The Supreme court will hear on September 22 (Friday) plea by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) challenging the Madras High Court order staying the lookout notice against Karti Chidambaram – son of former Finance Minister P. Chidambram and others.
The High Court order was later stayed by the apex court.
The bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M.Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y.Chandrachud decided to hear bthe matter on September 22 as senior counsel Kapil Sibal appearing for Karti Chidambram told the to hold an early hearing as he has to go abroad in connection with his work.
In the last hearing of the matter on September 11, the top court had directed the listing onb matter today (Sept. 18) for final disposal.
In the last hearing of the matter when CBI indicated that Karti Chidambram had 25 properties offshore, later denied it and told the Supreme Court that the Centre should disclose any overseas assets held by him or his family and seize them.
“My father, mother, wife, and myself are income tax payees. If the government or its agencies can tell we have these properties, we will execute decrees in their favour and the government can take their possession,” Karti Chidambaram had said.
Karti Chidambram said had this in the last hearing, as Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the CBI, produced in a sealed cover what he said were details of properties allegedly linked to Karti Chidambaram.
ASG Mehta had said that the information about these overseas assets had surfaced during the course of his questioning by the agency.
The investigating agency had issued the lookout circular against Karti Chidambram could not leave the country pending investigations.
The investigation relates to alleged irregularities in Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance to INX Media when P. Chidambaram was the Finance Minister in the United Progressive Alliance government.
Karti Chidambaram had refused to appear before the CBI for further questioning on September 14 as his lawyer Arun Natarajan ion a communication to the agency that his client would not present himself for questioning as directed, saying a special court had discharged all the accused in the matter.