BJP Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy on Monday listed out 21 ‘secret’ foreign bank accounts where Karti Chidambaram, allegedly amassed illegal wealth to the tune of Rs 6 lakh crore, from the Aircel-Maxis deal.
Karti is the son of former Finance Minister P Chidambaram.
Addressing a press conference at the Constitution Club in the national capital on Monday, Swamy said although there was enough evidence, officials in the Finance Ministry and Income Tax Department were not acting on the “illegality”.
Swamy termed Monday’s press conference as the first installment of an “open and shut” case.
Defending the PM, he said that it was easy to criticise Modi on the “black money” issue but blamed bureaucrats for not doing enough despite having enough “data”.
Swamy said that the Prime Minister was very co-operative and took action whenever Swamy approached him but it is “painful that for every small thing that I have to write him a letter”.
He alleged that some of the bureaucrats in the Finance Ministry were chosen by the former FM or “are Chidambaram’s favourites” and they were soft-hearted to prosecute anyone.
He also criticised the BJP of trying to dilute the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA) through an amendment.
Swamy also mentioned that if one refuses to obey summons by the Enforcement Directorate under the PMLA (Prevention of Money Laundering Act), they can be prosecuted but in the “special case” of Karti Chidambaram, no action was taken even though he had not obeyed three summons by the ED.
Swamy also re-iterated his allegation that P Chidambaram as FM gave clearance to an “illegal deal” in which Malaysian company Maxis was allowed to buy all shares of Aircel.
He said, “The Maran brothers are conspirators but not the principle culprits. The principal culprit is Mr. Chidambaram and its principle beneficiary is his son.”
Swamy termed the father and son duo as the “biggest crooks” after their party president and vice president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
Swami said that during the next Supreme Court hearing on March 3, he will argue the charge sheeting of P Chidambaram in the case.
Swamy told reporters that the Malaysian company paid bribes to Karti Chidambaram and they were paid either directly to him or to companies like the Advantage Strategic Consulting, which were owned by him.
Swamy said that during the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Karti Chidambaram in his election affidavit did not mention these 21 bank accounts.
Reacting to Swamy’s allegations, Karti Chidamabram tweeted, “My family's n my assets are duly reflected in our IT filings. My companies have made all declarations as required by statutory requirements.”
My family's n my assets are duly reflected in our IT filings. My companies have made all declarations as required by statutory requirements
— Karti P Chidambaram (@KartiPC) February 20, 2017
Some outrageous claims have been made about me. My filings are up to date n completely in compliance with regulatory/statutory requirements.
— Karti P Chidambaram (@KartiPC) February 20, 2017