Tensions escalated in Delhi’s courts as the High Court issued CBI notices on Karti P Chidambaram’s challenge to charges in the infamous 2011 Chinese visa controversy. The Congress MP aims to derail a trial court’s push to formalize accusations of conspiracy and graft.
In a packed hearing, Justice Manoj Jain entertained the revision petition and stay request, directing the probe agency to respond promptly. The February 12 listing underscores the urgency of this political-legal showdown.
Chidambaram’s lead counsel, Siddharth Luthra, dissected the prosecution’s case, noting the glaring omission of any government official’s complicity—fatal to corruption act sections 8 and 9. He labeled the IPC 204 charges as baseless, devoid of evidentiary backing.
The court, cautious on interim stays, prioritized CBI’s viewpoint before deciding. The special prosecutor, present on notice, sought extensions for substantive filings.
Judicial hesitancy has defined the case, with prior recusals by key judges like Swarna Kanta Sharma, Anup Jairam Bambhani, and Girish Kathpalia. The targeted order from December 23 indicts Chidambaram in visa manipulations for Vedanta’s Talwandi Sabo Power project, aiding 250 Chinese laborers’ prolonged stay in violation of rules. Co-accused Chetan Srivastava walked free.
Unpacking the scam, CBI points to Home Ministry bypasses favoring the Mansa power venture. Chidambaram’s offensive could rewrite the narrative, exposing procedural flaws in a saga blending politics, business, and bureaucracy.
As replies pour in, the verdict may redefine accountability thresholds in such high-profile inquiries, captivating observers across India’s power structures.