Karti Chidambaram denies connection with firms raided by ED

Chennai, Dec. 16 : Karti Chidambaram, the son of former finance minister P. Chidambaram, on Wednesday said that neither he nor any of his family members were shareholders or directors of any of the firms raided by the central agencies.

“Some officers of the investigating agencies visited my offices today. I made it clear to the investigating officers what I had publicly stated earlier. Neither I nor any member of my family is a share holder or director of any of the said firm. We do not have any economic interest in the said firms,” Karti told the media here.

The son of the former finance minister also said that he was informed that investigation was on for three firms.

“Two of the firms belong to my friends. They are owned by professionals and managed by a competent board of directors, I am not aware of the third firm,” he said

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“I have no doubt that the two firms belonging to my friends will answer any question put to them and clear any allegation made against them,” he added.

Karti also pointed out that nothing related to the said firms was found and taken from his office.

“As far as I am concerned, I maintain that there was and is no basis for them (investigating agencies), to have visited or to make any enquiries in my office,” he added.

A joint team of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Income Tax (IT) department had searched the premises of companies allegedly connected to Karti Chidambaram.

Former finance minister P. Chidambaram had earlier told ANI in an interview there was no wrongdoing in the said firms.

“I don’t know what they (ED) did. They searched two firms and they leaked out to the media that these firms were linked to my son. I flatly denied it and I was furious. That evening, they put out a statement saying that no politician or any member of his family is a shareholder or a director in these two firms. The matter has ended there,” Chidambram told ANI.

Chidambaram in a statement said that the Government must target him directly, if they wish to do so. He also said that the government must not ‘harass friends of my son who carry on their own businesses and have nothing to do with politics.’ (ANI)