Karti Chidambaram criticises news coverage of money-laundering case against him

Chandigarh, August 23

Member of Parliament Karti Chidambaram has criticised some prime-time television shows for their coverage of the allegations of money-laundering against him.

Chidambaram, who is a suspect in the Aircel-Maxis case and whose father P Chidambaram has been arrested over corruption charges in the INX Media case, said in a statement that all his assets were “duly accounted for”. His statement, which he posted on Twitter, read: “There have been many prime-time TV shows over the last few days about my ‘assets’. Documents ‘exclusively’ accessed from investigative agencies are bandied about as ‘proof’.”

“My assets are all duly accounted for and disclosed in all statutory filings. I have contested two elections, one successfully. I am obligated to publicly declare my assets and I have done so. If the agencies, including the IT Department, had proof of ‘undeclared assets’ or -undisclosed sources of income,” his statement read.

“So, I ask TV anchors to be a bit more tempered in their coverage of ‘stories’ about my ‘global wealth’,” his statement said.

Here is his full statement

‘There have been many prime-time TV shows over the last few days about my "assets." Documents "exclusively" accessed from investigative agencies are bandied about as "proof."

I have said this ad nauseam. My assets are all duly accounted for and disclosed in all statutory filings. I have contested two elections, one successfully. I am obligated to publicly declare my assets and I have done so. If the agencies, including the IT Department, had proof of "undeclared assets" or -undisclosed sources of income," they could have easily proceeded against me under the relevant provisions of law. Let me remind you that I am liable for disqualification from Parliament, if I have misstated my assets.

Further, I am classified as a PEP (Politically Exposed Person), which means that the level of scrutiny that I have to go through to open bank accounts and transact business is onerous. There is absolutely no way that I could hold assets without provenance of source of funds.

So, I ask TV anchors to be a bit more tempered in their coverage of "stories" about my "global wealth”.’