New Delhi: Karti P. Chidambaram, son of former Union Minister P. Chidambaram took illegal gratification of Rs. 50 lakh through his close aide S. Bhaskararaman for getting the approval for the reuse of Chinese VISAs by the Company namely Talwandi Sabo Power Limited, which was establishing a power project at Mansa, Punjab, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) stated today.
Officials of the Company approached Karti P. Chidambaram to get the approval for reuse of VISAs from the Ministry of Home Affairs wherein his father, P. Chidambaram, was the Union Home Minister.
Enforcement Directorate investigation revealed the modus operandi adopted in the case was that the Company paid Rs. 50 lakh through cheque to an entry operator in the garb of fictitious services. The entry operator in turn paid Rs. 50 lakh cash to S. Bhaskararaman, a close associate of Karti Chidambaram. Subsequently, S. Bhaskararaman invested this cash of Rs. 50 lakh in Advantage Strategic Consulting Private Limited, a Company controlled by Karti P. Chidambaram. The value of Rs. 50 lakh so invested increased to Rs. 1.59 Crore over a period of time which is the proceeds of crime as per provisions of PMLA, 2002.
ED stated it has filed a Prosecution Complaint (PC) under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 before the Special Court PMLA, New Delhi against Karti P. Chidambaram, Advantage Strategic Consulting Private Limited, S. Bhaskararaman, Talwandi Sabo Power Limited and Others in a money-laundering case. The Court has taken cognizance of the PC on March 19, 2024.
ED initiated an investigation based on an FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) under the provisions of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
“Further investigation is under progress,” ED stated.
– global bihari bureau
