Govt. can't silence me by targeting my son: Chidambaram

Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram came down heavily on the Enforcement Directorate for issuing a show-cause notice to his son Karti over alleged forex allegations, asserting that the Government was trying to muzzle his voice by going after his son.

"The Enforcement Directorate has the habit of recycling allegations from time to time. Today's press release by the ED is another example. The allegations in the press release are baseless, totally false and ridiculous," Chidambaram said in a statement.

However, he claimed that no notice has been served upon Karti so far, adding that if a notice is received, a suitable reply will be sent.

"By targeting Karti Chidambaram with baseless notices, the government cannot silence my voice or stop my writing," he added.

Earlier today, the Enforcement Directorate issued a show-cause notice to Karti Chidambaram and others for alleged forex violations to the tune of Rs. 45 crore.

After over two years of investigations, the Enforcement Directorate issued a similar notice to another Chennai based firm M/s Vasan Health Care Private Limited, for alleged forex violations of Rs. 2,262 crore.

The Enforcement Directorate said that the show-cause notice has been issued to M/s Advantage Strategic Consulting Private Limited, its directors and also to Karti P. Chidambaram who appears to be the controller and ultimate beneficiary in these transactions.

Under the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA),the total amount of contravention identified by the ED, by M/s Vasan Healthcare Private Limited and its overseas investors on different counts in the investments received from overseas investors is nearly Rs.2,100 crore and additional Rs. 162 crore, totalling to Rs. 2,262 crore.