If anyone deserves applauds for nailing Chidambaram, it’s Subramanian Swamy

Rajya Sabha MP Subramanian Swamy over the past few years has been a flag bearer against corrupt leaders in Indian polity. From National Herald scam to the INX media scam, the senior BJP leader has been proactive regarding these probes and taking these cases to a logical conclusion. The most recent success of Subramanian Swamy’s efforts is surely the progress in the INX Media scam in which P Chidambaram is one of the main accused.

In recent developments Delhi High Court has dismissed both his anticipatory bail pleas in connection with INX Media scam on Tuesday; however CBI and ED are on the lookout for former union Minister P Chidambaram, who has been untraceable since the High Court quashed his plea. “Facts of the case prima facie reveal that the petitioner is the kingpin, the key conspirator in this case,” it the court order read.

The court also noted, “It is a classic case of money laundering. The twin factors, which have weighed to deny pre-arrest bail to the petitioner are gravity of offence and evasive replies of the petitioner to the questions put to him while he was under protective cover.”

While P Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram look forward to a long legal battle and possible conviction, Subramanian Swamy surely deserves the credit for keeping the case alive while even the investigative agencies and the finance ministry were accused of hampering the probe.

Subramanian Swamy had first alleged that in 2006 a company controlled by Karti Chidambaram, the son of then Minister of Finance P Chidambaram, received a five-percent share of Aircel to get part of 40 billion paid by Maxis Communications for the 74-percent share of Aircel. According to Swamy, Chidambaram withheld Foreign Investment Promotion Board clearance of the deal until his son received the five-percent share in Siva’s company, however, later investigations had revealed a much bigger conspiracy. Both Subramanian Swamy and P Chidambaram coming from the state of Tamil Nadu trace their history back to decades and with recent developments Subramanian Swamy’s efforts seem to be surely paying off.

Earlier Subramanian Swamy had also written to the Prime Minister accusing officials of the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) as well as some officials of the Finance Ministry of attempting to ‘save’ P Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram. In the letter Swamy had stated that the agencies had concrete evidence against the Chidambaram but was reluctant to take action based on the evidence. Subramanian Swamy had also pointed out that certain officials have been delaying the process by writing letters to the foreign nations, seeking further details.

Subramaniam Swamy had also come out in support of ED officer Rajeshwar Singh who was probing the case on agency’s behalf. “The players in the CBI massacre are about to suspend ED’s Rajeshwar so that he cannot file the chargesheet against PC. If so I will have no reason to fight the corrupt since my govt is hell bent on protecting them. I shall then withdraw from all the corruption cases I have filed,” he had said in a tweet.

Swami had also urged the Prime Minister to reconsider appointment of Shaktikanta Das as the New RBI Governor and expressed his concerns regarding Das’ relations with P Chidambaram and had said, “Shaktikanta Das being appointed as RBI Governor is wrong, he has worked closely in corrupt activities with P Chidambaram and even tried to save him in court cases. I don’t know why this was done, I have written a letter to PM against this decision,” Swamy told news agency ANI.

Subramanian Swamy had also called for protection of Indrani Mukherjea who is the main approver for the investigative agencies regarding this case and had said, “Elements want to finish Indrani Mukherjee since she has on affidavit to ED said she gave bribe to BC for FIPB ok. Z security a must for her”.

Also after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had told the Supreme Court that Karti Chidambram was prevented from travelling abroad as he was allegedly closing his foreign bank accounts. “He (Karti) is a crook. He has no proper education, no occupation, how does he have so much wealth? It is all fraud. His father (P Chidambaram) does the illegal act and he (Karti) collects the money,” Swamy had told ANI.

Subramanian Swamy has also kept the pressure alive on Congress which has openly come out in support of the corruption accused and claimed the action of investigative agencies to be under influence of the central government. However, Subramanian Swamy exposed these ‘concerns’ and alleged that P Chidambaram has been laundering money for the Gandhi family. However with CBI and ED moving ahead to seek custody of the missing former minister, Subramanian Swamy has kept the pressure up on administration to keep this mega scam heated and surely deserves the due credit for his persistence in this regard.