SC to examine CBI's documents against Karti Chidambaram

A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud asked Additiol Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), to place the documents before the court on November 9. The bench said it will look into the CBI report in open court to allay any apprehension of Karti Chidambaram and others. The bench’s order came after Mehta said it will be travesty of justice if the court does not see the papers and form an opinion.

Karti is facing a probe for his alleged role in facilitating the 2007 Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance for INX Media Ltd when his father was the Union Fince Minister. On October 11, the apex court had said that it would decide whether the documents submitted by the CBI in a sealed cover could be relied upon in deciding the validity of the lookout circular issued against Karti Chidambaram.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Chidambaram, asked the court to pass any order as the case with regard to the lookout circular has been lingering on for over three months now.

Sibal said that Karti Chidambaram has to go for a lecture at a British University on the ‘rule of law in Pakistan’ on November 10, but due to this case, his passport has been impounded. Mehta opposed Sibal’s arguments and said it was beyond his understanding as to how important the lecture on “Rule of Law in Pakistan” would be, adding Karti Chidambaram cannot be allowed to travel abroad pending investigation, said Mehta. (IANS)