Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Monday lashed out at the Enforcement Directorate vowing not to get intimidated by the agency’s decision to attach son Karti’s assets.
The Enforcement Directorate is probing Karti for receiving alleged kickbacks in getting FIPB clearance in the Aircel Maxis deal, while his father chaired the finance ministry.
Targeting ED, which has attached Rs. 1.16 crore worth of assets belonging to son Karti, Chidambaram called the action as ‘efforts to silence his voice.’
He said, “I have read the Press Note released by the Enforcement Directorate. It cleverly skirts the issue of jurisdiction of the ED when the only charge sheet filed in the case (Aircel-Maxis) has been quashed by the Special Judge. The allegations in the Press Note are a crazy mixture of falsehoods and conjectures. The Press Note is intended to intimidate me and to silence my voice. I will not be intimidated.”
Chidambaram also added that ‘suitable action in accordance with the law shall be taken once the order is served.’
The former finance minister said that the allegations against his son were ‘crazy mixture of falsehoods.’
“The allegations in the press note are a crazy mixture of falsehoods and conjectures. I have read the press note released by the Enforcement Directorate. It cleverly skirts the issue of jurisdiction of the ED when the only charge sheet filed in the case (Aircel-Maxis) has been quashed by the special judge,” he was quoted by PTI.
On Monday, the agency said it that had issued a provisional attachment order under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) attaching assets “of Karti in the form of fixed deposits and balance in saving bank account to the tune of Rs. 90 lakh approximately.”
It further added that another Rs. 26 lakh fixed deposits belonging to a firm Advantage Strategic Consulting Private Limited (ASCPL) has also been attached under provisions of the anti-money laundering law.
