On March 21, the Enforcement Directorate accused Congress MP Karti Chidambaram of accepting a bribe of Rs 50 lakh through a trusted associate to secure approval from the Union Home Ministry for the renewal of visas for Chinese personnel working on a power plant project in Punjab. The agency asserted that this purported bribe was funneled into a company where Karti Chidambaram held a directorial position and wielded influence, using a deceptive cash transaction. Karti Chidambaram, aged 52, represents the Sivaganga constituency in Tamil Nadu's Lok Sabha and has been questioned by the agency multiple times regarding this matter. 

These allegations were outlined in a charge sheet filed by the federal agency against Karti Chidambaram, a company supposedly linked to him named Advantage Strategic Consulting Private Limited, his purported close associate and accountant S Bhaskararaman, the entity employing Chinese workers, Talwandi Sabo Power Limited, and several others. 

The special Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) court in Delhi acknowledged the prosecution's complaint on March 19 and has summoned all defendants, including Karti Chidambaram, to appear before it on April 15. The list of accused individuals also includes Padam Dugar, Vikas Makharia, Mansoor Siddiqi, and Dugar Housing Ltd. 

According to the investigation, Karti P Chidambaram allegedly received an illicit payment of Rs 50 lakh through his associate S Bhaskararaman in exchange for obtaining approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs for the reuse of Chinese visas by Talwandi Sabo Power Limited, a company establishing a power project in Mansa, Punjab. It is alleged that officials of the company sought Karti P Chidambaram's assistance in securing the visa approval, taking advantage of his father's position as the Home Minister at the time. 

The purported method involved the company issuing a cheque of Rs 50 lakh to an entry operator under the guise of fictitious services. This entry operator allegedly paid Rs 50 lakh in cash to S Bhaskararaman, who is described as a close associate of Karti P Chidambaram. Subsequently, Bhaskararaman purportedly invested this cash amount in Advantage Strategic Consulting Private Limited, a company allegedly under Karti P Chidambaram's control. 

The Enforcement Directorate claims that the initial investment of Rs 50 lakh grew to Rs 1.59 crore over time, constituting proceeds of crime under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Karti P Chidambaram has previously characterised the ED's investigation as baseless and has stated that he provided all necessary documents to the agency. He denied any involvement in facilitating Chinese nationals' visa processes and labeled the case as an attempt to target his father, P Chidambaram, through him. 

The ED's money laundering investigation originated from a First Information Report (FIR) filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The probe revolves around allegations of Rs 50 lakh in kickbacks being paid to Karti Chidambaram and S Bhaskararaman by a senior executive of a Vedanta group company, Talwandi Sabo Power Ltd. (TSPL), as per the CBI's FIR. 

As per the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Chinese company responsible for constructing the power project was lagging behind schedule. Allegedly, an executive from Talwandi Sabo Power Ltd. (TSPL) sought the re-issuance of project visas for 263 Chinese workers, involving an exchange of Rs 50 lakh, according to the CBI FIR. 

Last year, the CBI conducted raids on properties associated with the Chidambaram family and arrested Bhaskararaman. Meanwhile, Karti Chidambaram was interrogated by the CBI. This marks the third money laundering investigation involving Karti Chidambaram, with the INX Media and Aircel-Maxis cases already under investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for several years. Karti Chidambaram has previously been charged in these two cases by the ED. 

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