Chinese Visa scam case: Delhi court charges Karti Chidambaram for criminal conspiracy, bribing public servant

A Delhi court on Tuesday charged Congress Member of Parliament Karti Chidambaram with the offences of criminal conspiracy and bribing a public servant in the alleged Chinese Visa scam case.

Special Judge (PC Act) Dig Vinay Singh of the Rouse Avenue Court framed charges against Chidambaram and six others.

The Court discharged one Chetan Shrivastava from the case.

A detailed order is awaited.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) alleged that Chidambaram was facilitating visas of 250 Chinese nationals after receiving illegal gratification of ₹50 lakh. The allegations in the CBI’s first information report (FIR) were that Talwandi Sabo Power Limited (TSPL) had paid an amount of ₹50 lakh to Bell Tools Limited (BTL), which in turn relayed it to S Bhaskararaman as gratification for the Chinese visas. Bhaskararaman is stated to be Chidambaram's aide.

However, the Congress leader claims that nothing incriminating was found during the search proceedings against him. 

Senior Advocate Sidharth Luthra with Advocates Arshdeep Singh Khurana and Akshat Gupta appeared for Chidambaram.