New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a charge sheet against former finance minister P Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram in connection with the INX Media case. This is the first charge sheet in the case, pertaining to money laundering probe.

A password protected e-chargesheet was filed against Chidambaram, his son Karti and others before the court of Special Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar here on Monday. The judge has directed the agency to file a hard copy of the chargesheet once the court starts functioning normally.

Chidambaram under CBI, ED lens

Senior Congress leader was put behind bars last year, with both CBI and ED arresting him in different cases. On August 21, he was arrested by the CBI in the INX Media graft case. The ED had arrested Chidambaram on October 16 in connection with money laundering case.

The CBI on October 18, last year had filed a chargesheet against the father, son and 11 others in the INX Media case.

CBI & ED cases against Chidambaram & Karti

The CBI had registered its case on May 15, 2017, alleging irregularities in a Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance granted to the INX Media group for receiving overseas funds of Rs 305 crore in 2007, during Chidambaram’s tenure as finance minister.

The agency had submitted purported emails between INX Media and a company belonging to Karti Chidambaram, claiming that these emails will “prove offences committed”.

Subsequently, the ED had lodged the money-laundering case. ED has been investigating financial irregularities after registering a case under Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The central agency started investigation on the basis of the FIR registered by CBI alleging that there were irregularities in the FIPB clearance granted to INX media.

His son Karti Chidambaram had received kickbacks for the deal, according to investigators. Karti Chidambaram was also arrested on February 28, 2018 but was later released on bail.