No respite for P Chidambaram family in I-T case

Dismissing three separate petitions moved by Chidambaram’s wife Nalini, his son Karti and daughter-inlaw Srinidhi Karti, Justice TS Sivagnanam said, “The Income-Tax department is directed to pass orders in accordance with the provisions of Black Money (Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets) and imposition of Tax 2015 (Act 22 of 2015) within the time line fixed under the Act.” 

“So far as the writ petitions seeking prohibition of prosecution is concerned, the prayer cannot be granted and the writ petitions dismissed. It is needless to state that the petitioners are entitled to canvass all the factual and legal contentions before the Income-Tax authorities in the procedures initiated pursuant to the notices issued under sections 10(1) and Section 8(1) of the Act,” the judge added. 

The Income-Tax department issued notices to all the three seeking details of the documents in respect of the property at Cambridge in UK and certain investments in Nano Holdings, LLC USA on various dates. 

However, the former finance minister’s family members had contended that they have been subjected to harassment for the past three years by the central agencies. Moreover, multiple searches were held by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate both under FEMA and PMLA and summons issued in the absence of predicate offence. 

Pointing out that a FIR was registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act without naming any public servant and Karti Chidambaram arrested, the petitioners further submitted that the central agencies have been acting malafide in a bid to harass the petitioner’s family members without any justification. While submitting that though they have established beyond reasonable doubt that they do not possess black money and has no undisclosed foreign assets, they expressed apprehension that they may be subjected to malicious prosecution as part of the design to harass and humiliate them.