When the son of former finance minister P Chidambaram, Karti Chidambaram returned to India in the end of February 2018, he was arrested and taken into custody. We look at what happened, why and what it could mean as well as at all the reactions that the incident prompted.
The 46 year old Karti was arrested at Chennai Airport when he returned from the UK. The arrest was made in connection with the INX Media case where Karti, Peter and Indrani Mukerjea, as well as a few others have been charged under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) for money laundering and other irregularities.
After the expiry of a one day judicial custody, Karti Chidambaram was produced for hearing at the Patiala House Court in Delhi before the special CBI judge Sunil Rana on 1 March. He has been remanded to CBI custody for five days. Home food will not be allowed though medications will be allowed during this period.
Karti, his father and lawyers have denied the accusations and have declared that the charges are false and politically motivated. The father was seen to place his hand on the son's shoulder and offer reassurance while in court.
Navneet Rajan Wasan, former special DG of the NIA was quoted as saying that it was unusual for the CBI to arrest people and as saying that substantial evidence would have to be produced to prove the charges.
Many pointed out the fact that those who have been accused of lakhs of crores of scams are escaping with impunity and are thumbing their noses at the establishment; a clear reference to the recent Nirav Modi and Vijay Mallya scandals.
People were cynical about the arrest, pointing out that arrests are being made while people are returning to the country instead of stopping people escaping.
Many felt that this was a victory for those who supported certain political ideologies.
The BJP Karnataka handle tweeted this R K Laxman cartoon suitably modified to their own requirements. Implicit is the idea that action will now be taken against senior Chidambaram as well.
Many raised questions about the alacrity shown in arresting someone who is accused of taking a Rs 10 lakh bribe while the bigger fish remain unaffected.
Some people have felt that the CBI is acting selectively and that they are doing the bidding of the government. But then this is no different from the way things have always been; the working of nation’s investigative agencies has always been influenced by the ruling dispensation.
One twitterer wanted to know the whereabouts of Mahesh Shah who had declared huge assets and then went missing.
Indrani Mukherjea, the woman accused of murdering her daughter Sheena Bohra as well as a co-accused in the INX Media case has given a statement in the matter. Her allegations were one of the major points of argument that swayed the matter before the CBI court. The credibility of Indrani Mukherjea and the possibility of her being treated leniently in exchange for suitable testimony in a case where she and her husband are accused also came in for scrutiny and discussion.
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