CBI questions Chidambaram in INX Media case
New Delhi, June 6 : Former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram was on Wednesday questioned by the CBI in connection with its ongoing probe into the INX Media corruption case.
According to the agency, Chidambaram appeared at the Central Bureau of Investigation's (CBI) headquarters around 11 a.m.
A special CBI Economic Offences Wing team started questioning Chidambaram about his role in granting Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approval to INX Media in 2007.
The team has prepared a set of questions for Chidambaram's clarifications. The senior Congress leader's statement would be recorded, according to a probe agency official.
Besides his clarification on FIPB clearance, Chidambaram would also be quizzed on Indrani Mukherjea's allegations and other aspects linked to the INX Media case.
The questioning is part of the CBI's investigation into a money laundering case registered in 2017 against Chidambaram's son Karti Chidambaram in the Aircel-Maxis case.
The CBI first issued the summons to Chidambaram in the case on June 1 asking him to appear the next day, but the Congress leader skipped the notice after the Delhi High Court granted him interim protection from arrest.
The court on May 31 granted interim protection to the Congress leader from arrest till July 3 in the INX Media case. Earlier, the court had allowed interim protection to his son Karti Chidambaram till July 10.
The CBI had on May 15, 2017, filed an FIR in the case accusing Chidambaram, his son Karti and others of involvement in irregularities committed in giving INX Media the clearance to receive Rs 305 crore in foreign investment.
The CBI had on February 28 arrested Karti in the case, accusing him of taking money to facilitate the FIPB clearance to INX Media in 2007 when his father was the Finance Minister during the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. Later, he was granted bail.
The CBI initially alleged that Karti had received Rs 10 lakh as bribe for facilitating the FIPB clearance.
The figure was, however, revised later to about $1 million or Rs 6.5 crore at the current exchange rate. The CBI and the Enforcement Directorate are probing the case.
On Tuesday, the former Finance Minister was questioned by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials for over five hours in the Rs 3,500 crore Aircel-Maxis deal case.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Telangana CM urges Amit Shah to increase sanctioned strength of IPS officers in state
Hyderabad (PTI): Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi on Wednesday night and urged him to increase the sanctioned strength of IPS officers to the state in view of its growing administrative and security needs.
The two leaders also discussed the recent surrender of several senior Maoist leaders before the Telangana Police and other issues.
"During the meeting, the two leaders discussed the issue of Maoist surrenders and their rehabilitation. The chief minister informed Shah that significant improvements in policing have taken place in Telangana over the past two years," an official release here said.
Highlighting that 591 Maoists have laid down their arms and joined the mainstream of society during this period, the chief minister said the state government was providing them compensation and rehabilitation assistance as per the rules.
He requested the Union home minister to extend financial support from the central government for development works in the backward regions of the state.
Reddy also urged Shah to increase the sanctioned strength of IPS officers to the state from 83 to 105 in line with the state's growing administrative and security needs, the statement said.
The first cadre review after the formation of Telangana was conducted in 2016, while the next review, due in 2021, was delayed and finally carried out in 2025. Even then, only seven additional IPS officers were allocated to the state, the chief minister informed Shah and requested that the third cadre review be conducted in 2026 as per the schedule.
Reddy explained that Telangana, like the rest of the country, is facing several modern challenges, including cybercrime, drug trafficking, white-collar crimes, and other emerging security threats.
He highlighted the reorganisation of the Hyderabad, Cyberabad, and Malkajgiri Police Commissionerates, the proposed formation of the Future City Commissionerate and the rapidly growing population in Hyderabad to underline the increasing administrative requirements of the state.
