ED approaches 14 countries seeking financial information about P Chidambaram's son Karti

NEW DELHI: The ED has sought information from 14 countries on properties and banking transactions of companies allegedly linked to former finance minister P Chidambaram's son Karti.
Sources said the agency has approached UK, UAE, South Africa, US, Greece, Spain, Switzerland, France, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Sri Lanka and British Virgin Islands seeking information on assets and business transactions of Advantage Strategic, Sequoia, WestBridge and other firms allegedly linked to Karti on the basis of documents recovered during raids.

The ED's move to extend the probe overseas, in what is being referred to as the 'Karti Chidambaram case', comes when, source said, it is planning to question him shortly for his financial transactions.

Responding to the development, Karti told TOI, "All my assets and liabilities are duly recorded in my books of accounts. My tax filings are up to date. If any statutory or regulatory authority seeks information under prescribed provisions of law, I will provide the information."

After the raid on Chess Global, another company linked to Karti, the former finance minister had reacted strongly stating his son was being victimised by the NDA government. He called the ED raids a "fishing and roving exercise". "As can be expected, nothing was found in the fishing and roving enquiry. I would like to see how far a foolish government will go in harassing him (Karti)," Chidambaram had said.

However, sources in ED said the raids earlier this year had turned up valuable information about the use of Advantage Strategic as a front by "certain individuals". Investigators said the scrutiny of papers seized during searches and income tax documents showed that Karti had close links with Advantage Strategic, Sequoia and WestBridge.

As part of its probe into the the controversial AircelMaxis deal, ED had last year searched the offices and residences of directors of Advantage Strategic as well as Vasan Healthcare, a Chennai-based company . Documents recovered during the search operation led ED to scan the premises of Chess Global Advisory Services Pvt Ltd, a firm in which Karti was a director.

The Aircel-Maxis deal probe is part of the 2G spectrum scam which CBI and ED started investigating when UPA was in power. Former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran is already chargesheeted in the case.