Karti Chidambaram appeared before the CBI for questioning in a corruption case. (PTI)
Karti Chidambaram, the son of Congress leader P Chidambaram, arrived at the CBI office today for questioning in a corruption case following a Supreme Court order. "My petitions in court speak for themselves," the 45-year-old told NDTV as he walked in.
The court has said Karti Chidambaram's lawyer can accompany him to the CBI office but sit in an adjoining room during his questioning.
Karti Chidambaram has been accused of taking a Rs. 3.5 crore bribe from a private company, the INX media, to facilitate clearance for foreign investment using his "influence in the finance ministry" in 2007, when his father was the country's finance minister.
A lookout notice was recently put out for him at airports, which would prevent him from flying abroad. Last week,
the Supreme Court cancelled a High Court order that had put the notice on hold, and said Karti cannot leave India without submitting to investigation.
Karti has argued against the lookout circular and also said in court that he is being targeted because of his father. The CBI, however, said the notice was needed as its investigation is at an initial stage.
Karti didn't show up when he was summoned by the CBI for questioning before, first on May 18 and then May 21. He had asked the agency for a reprieve, saying he had approached the Madras High Court challenging the case against him and the CBI should wait for the verdict.
Karti told the court last week that the Supreme Court's statement that he had never appeared before the CBI had dented his and his family's reputation.
The court replied: "Your submission is that you are so clean that you don't need to appear before CBI".
The CBI filed a formal complaint on May 15 and has searched the homes and offices of Karti and his associates in connection with the charges.