Trouble For Karti Chidambaram As CBI Files Fresh FIR Against Him Over Alleged Corruption

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a fresh corruption case against Congress MP Karti Chidambaram, son of former finance minister P Chidambaram, for allegedly aiding alcoholic beverage company Diageo Scotland in lifting a ban on the duty-free sale of its whisky in India.

The case involves suspicious payments made to Advantage Strategic Consulting Pvt. Ltd., an entity reportedly controlled by Karti Chidambaram and his associate S Bhaskararaman, the CBI said on Thursday (9 January).

“Enquiry revealed that out of various proposals of FIPB enquired into, it was found that Diageo Scotland and Sequoia Capitals have suspiciously transferred funds to Advantage Strategic Consulting Pvt. Ltd., an entity controlled by Sh. Karti P Chidambaram and his close aide S Bhaskararaman," it said.

The agency alleges that Diageo Scotland, UK, which imported duty-free Johnnie Walker whisky, suffered significant losses after the India Tourism Development Corporation (ITDC) imposed a ban on the sale of its duty-free products in April 2005.

The ITDC had a monopoly on the sale of imported duty-free liquor in India, and the embargo reportedly affected 70 per cent of Diageo Scotland’s business in the country.

The FIR further claims that Diageo Scotland sought Karti Chidambaram’s assistance to lift the ban and made payments of $15,000 to Advantage Strategic Consulting under the guise of a “consultancy fee.”

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