On Karti Chidambaram, Supreme Court Warns "No Tennis For Him If..."

Aircel Maxis case: Karti Chidambaram has sought the Supreme Court's permission to travel abroad

The Supreme Court today asked the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to specify the dates on which Karti Chidambaram is required to appear for questioning in the Aircel Maxis case. The probe agency had opposed Karti Chidambaram's plea to travel abroad alleging that he has been "evasive and non-cooperative". The ED told that court that the Aircel Maxis probe is getting "delayed" because of Karti Chidambaram's frequent foreign travels. 

Karti Chidambaram had sought the Supreme Court's permission to travel to the UK, Spain, Germany and France in February and March for a tennis tournament. "No tennis for him if he evades," the top court said. The court will hear the Aircel Maxis case again on Wednesday but before that the probe agency has to submit the dates when it needs him to appear for questioning. "We will ensure that he (Karti Chidambaram) appears before the ED and also travels abroad," said the Supreme Court. 

The probe agency alleged that Karti Chidambaram was abroad for 51 days in last 6 months, leading to the delay in the investigations. Earlier, the investigative agency had told the court that Karti Chidambaram, had been "blatantly misusing" the liberty granted to him by the court to travel abroad, using it to protract the investigations.

Karti Chidambaram is being investigated by the ED and the CBI in several cases, including the one relating to Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance to INX Media for receiving foreign funds to the tune of Rs 305 crore when his father, P Chidambaram was the finance minister.