Raids on business associates of Chidambaram’s son.
By Dieep Thekkethil
Is the Enforcement Directorate and the Income Tax Department in India sending a subtle message to former finance minister P Chidambaram, and targeting him?
Chidambaram seems to think so. He has accused the Enforcement Directorate and the Income Tax Department of targeting business associations linked to his son, Karti Chidambaram.
According to PTI, the Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax department made surprise visits to some of the business associates which have connections with Karti Chidambaram. A senior Income Tax investigation department official was quoted saying, “Some searches are happening at this point of time.â€
According to media reports, more than three offices connected to the Congress leader were searched and “certain companiesâ€, including a private eye care chain, in which Karti Chidambaram is said to have a stake, were put to intense search by two government bodies.
The official, while talking to PTI, said that the searches were conducted after the IT department became suspicious about the tax payments of the firms and the Enforcement Directorate accompanied as part of their investigation under the provisions of Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).
Reacting to the current developments and allegations levelled against his son, P Chidambaram said, “My family and I are quite prepared to face the malicious onslaught launched by the government. If government wants to target me, it should do so directly.â€