The Enforcement Directorate has opposed the anticipatory bail plea of Congress MP Karti P Chidambaram in the alleged Chinese visa scam, saying the probe so far has revealed his involvement in the present crime, which endangers national security for financial gain. Is.
The agency, in its July 11 status report, said the investigation would not be successful if the accused knew that he was safe and that grant of anticipatory bail in economic offenses would certainly affect an effective investigation. The agency said that the investigation is still in its initial stage and if the details are disclosed at this stage it will be prejudiced as Karti is a sitting MP and highly influential and urged that the status of the investigation should be kept on the record of the case. be seen from
“The present offense of endangering the national security for financial gain to the detriment of the general public of the country is a serious economic offense having deleterious effect on the economy and society,” the ED said. Karti is a flight risk and reportedly has criminal antecedents.
“The investigation conducted so far reveals the involvement of the applicant. The investigation is at a preliminary and critical stage and the findings of the investigation, if presented in open court, may adversely affect the investigation by the department. Therefore, it is requested that the present status of investigation may be studied from the records of the case by the court,” the status report said. “The investigation being carried out by the department is still in its initial stage and if it is disclosed at this stage, the investigation by the department would be prejudicial, with the applicant being a member of parliament and a highly influential person,” it added. ,
The ED has registered a money laundering case against Karti and others in the alleged scam of issuing visas to 263 Chinese nationals in 2011, when his father P Chidambaram was the Home Minister. Justice Poonam A Bamba on Tuesday listed Karti’s anticipatory bail plea for hearing on August 18 after the ED’s counsel pointed out that Additional Advocate General SV Raju was unavailable.
The probe agency orally said that its earlier assurance of not taking any coercive action against Karti would be extended till the next date. On June 12, the ED had orally assured the High Court that no coercive action would be taken against him till July 12.
Karti, appearing for advocate Arshdeep Singh, had approached the high court after his anticipatory bail plea and two others were dismissed by the trial court on June 3 on the ground that the offense was very serious in nature. In the status report, the ED also said that the enforcement of the matter cannot be reported to Karti as it is an internal document and there is no requirement in law to provide the same and the apprehension of arrest is baseless at this stage. . ,
It further said that Karti is a flight risk and has a criminal history as there are around four criminal cases pending against him, which are being probed by both the CBI and the ED. “The apprehension of arrest of the applicant is baseless, as also stated by the applicant that the ECIR was registered only on 25.05. The details of the applicant’s role were not given, it does not mean that the applicant is not guilty of the offense of money laundering. The offense of money laundering is a long drawn out and complicated process involving various steps,” the report said. .
“Such inquiry will not be successful if the accused knows that he is protected by the order of the court. Granting anticipatory bail especially in economic offences will certainly hinder effective investigation,” it further argued. The ED also emphasized that in recent times, several high-profile individuals with deep roots and respect in the society have left the country to escape the process of law.
The agency said the offense of money laundering still persists and Karti could influence witnesses and tamper with evidence. “The applicant has been and will be a Member of Parliament from Tamil Nadu. The applicant’s father has been a Union Minister for nearly ten years, including the Ministry of Home Affairs, the nodal ministry for the CBI, and the Ministry of Finance, the nodal ministry for the current agency, which itself gives birth to influencing witnesses and evidence. Anticipating the possibility of tampering,” the status report said.
The ED also denied allegations of political vendetta and malpractice, calling them outright bald. It has earlier stated that the actual quantum or quantum of the amount processed or processed in the case during investigation was yet to be established and the bribe amount of Rs 50 lakh cannot or cannot be taken as a basis in the CBL case. Is. current case.
The agency has registered its case under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, taking cognizance of the recent CBI FIR in the same case.
read all breaking news, today’s fresh newswatch top videos And live TV Here.