Karti Chidambaram's CA arrested, remanded to 5-day ED custody in INX media case

The Enforcement Directorate on Friday arrested S Bhaskararaman, the chartered accountant of Karti Chidambaram, in connection with INX Media money laundering case and produced him before a Delhi court, which remanded him for five-day custodial interrogation.

Bhaskararaman was produced before the court after he was arrested by the agency, from a five-star hotel in the heart of the national capital, early this morning. The ED had sought 14-day custody of the CA.

ED, through its special public prosecutor Nitesh Rana, alleged that Bhaskararaman had failed to appear before it even after issuing of several summons and was not cooperating with the probe.

Karti's name had cropped up in the case which relates to Foreign



Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approval granted in 2007 for receipt of funds by INX Media when his father and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram was the Union finance minister during the previous UPA regime.

"During the course of investigation, it was revealed that Bhaskararaman, who is a qualified chartered accountant, has been assisting the accused Karti Chidambaram to manage his huge ill-gotten wealth in India and abroad," the agency claimed, adding that the statement of various witnesses have been recorded in the case.

The agency also said the investigation required the presence of Bhaskararaman for collecting vital evidence and other necessary information which is within his special knowledge and exclusive domain.