Karti's arrest: Congress cries 'witch hunting' by PM Modi govt

In wake of the arrest of senior leader P. Chidambaram's son Karti Chidambaram, the Congress Party on Wednesday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government of 'witch hunting' to hide its scams.

Addressing the media, Congress spokesperson Rajdeep Surjewala said, "Prime Minister and his ministers using political witch-hunt and malicious intent to deflect heat from bank scam and losses to public exchequer."

Surjewala called it a 'Political persecution' by 'puppet' Central Bureau Investigation (CBI) to serve agenda of their political master is nothing but a cog in this wheel.

"Out of the blue arrest is made today, 11 years after the so-called incident and after a due appearance before CBI and submission of all documents. FIR till today does not mention or name Karti Chidambaram as an accused," he added.

The Congress leader further averred that the P Chidambaram had always maintained his stance that neither he nor his family members are connected with the INX Media.

"P Chidambaram has maintained that neither he nor any of his family member or relations have ever had or hav3e its stake, shareholding or directorship of Advantage Strategic Consulting Pvt Ltd or INX Media Pvt Ltd at any point of time", Surjewala said.

Earlier in the day, the Congress had termed the arrest of Karti Chidambaram as a "classic diversionary tactic" of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government.

"It's a classic diversionary tactic by the Modi government to hide their own corruption scams, mal-governance and maladministration that have marred this country," spokesperson Randeep Surjewala told ANI.

The son of former finance minister was arrested from Chennai airport by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), in connection with the INX Media money laundering case.

In May 2017, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had registered a money laundering case against Karti for his role in facilitating Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance for INX Media Ltd and its directors, Peter and Indrani Mukerjea - both accused in the murder of Sheena Bora -and others.

Karti illegally took service charges for getting the FIPB clearance to the INX Media for receiving funds from abroad worth Rs 305 crore in 2007 when his father was the finance minister in the Congress-led UPA Government.