The Enforcement Directorate has opposed the anticipatory bail plea by Congress MP Karti P Chidambaram in the alleged Chinese visas scam, saying the investigation so far has revealed his involvement in the present offence, which endangers national security for financial gains.
In its July 11 status report, the agency said success in an interrogation would elude if the accused knows that he is protected and the grant of anticipatory bail in economic offences would definitely hamper an effective investigation. The agency said the investigation is still in its preliminary stages and shall be prejudiced if details are disclosed at this stage as Karti is a sitting MP and highly influential and urged that the status of the probe be perused from the case record.
“The present offence of endangering national security for financial gains to the detriment of the general public of the country is severe economic offence having a detrimental impact on the economy and the society,” ED said, adding that Karti is a flight risk and allegedly has criminal antecedents.
“The investigation conducted so far reveals the involvement of the applicant. The investigation is at a preliminary and crucial stage and the findings of the investigation if presented in open court may prejudice the investigation by the department. It is, therefore, requested that the current status of the investigation may be perused by the court from the case record,” said the status report. “The investigation being conducted by the department is still in its preliminary stages and if the same is disclosed at this stage, the investigation by the department shall be prejudiced, the Applicant being a sitting member of Parliament and a highly influential individual,” it added.
The ED has registered the money laundering case against Karti and others in the alleged scam about the issuance of a visa 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 counsel for ED informed that additional solicitor general SV Raju was unavailable.
The investigating agency orally said its earlier assurance concerning no coercive action against Karti would extend 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.
With inputs from News18
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