Chinese Visa Scam Case: Congress Leader Karti Chidambaram Granted Bail By Delhi Court

On June 6, Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court granted regular bail to Congress leader Karti P. Chidambaram in the ongoing money laundering case linked to the Chinese visa scam, according to ANI.

In April, Special Judge Kaveri Baweja granted interim bail to three accused on personal bonds of ₹1 lakh each. These included Chidambaram’s former chartered accountant S. Bhaskararaman, Vikas Makharia, and Mansoor Siddiqi.

The Case Details

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) registered a money laundering case against Karti Chidambaram and others concerning the issuance of visas to 263 Chinese nationals in 2011. At the time, Karti’s father, P. Chidambaram, was the Union Home Minister.

The ED has yet to establish the total volume of laundered money. The alleged payment of a ₹50 lakh bribe, mentioned in the CBI case, is not considered the sole basis of the present case. The ED’s case is registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) following a CBI FIR.

Lok Sabha Election Win

Recently, Karti Chidambaram was in the news for his victory in the Sivaganga Lok Sabha constituency in Tamil Nadu, where he defeated AIADMK’s Xavierdass by a margin of 2,05,664 votes. He secured 4,27,677 votes in the June 4 election.

After the results, Chidambaram told ANI, “The people of Tamil Nadu have rejected the BJP’s Hindutva politics and have voted for a federal, secular, and inclusive government. This victory is clear in the election results.”

He emphasized that Tamil Nadu’s decisive support for the INDIA alliance, led by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, reflects the state’s desire for a federal, secular, and egalitarian government.

The INDIA alliance, comprising the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Congress, won 22 and 9 seats in Tamil Nadu, respectively.