Chennai: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday carried out search at the office of son of former Finance Minister P Chidambaram, Karti Chidambaram, who is under ED’s scanner for alleged money-laundering linked to the 2G spectrum case.
The ED action invited strong criticism from Chidambaram Sr who said “nothing was found” in the “fishing and roving” enquiry and he would like to see how far a “foolish” government would go in “harassing” him.
Karti Chidambaram issued a statement that some officers of the investigating agencies visited his office today.
“I was informed that they are investigating three firms. Two of the firms belong to my friends. They are owned by professionals and managed by competent Board of Directors.
I am not aware of the third firm,” he said in the statement.
ED officials said they searched a room they had locked in the office premises of Karti as part of their operation that was executed on December 1. “Some documents have been seized,” they said.
Officials said the room could not be opened on December 1 and was sealed. It was opened today and Karti was informed accordingly, they said.
Karti, in his statement, reiterated he had no “economic interests” in the firms being investigated by the probe agencies as he expressed surprise over the action conducted today.
“I made it clear to the officers what I had publicly stated earlier. Neither I nor any member of my family is a shareholder or Director of any of the said firms. We do not have any economic interests in the said firms,” he said.
(With PTI inputs)