CBI arrests S Bhaskararaman, shut affiliate of Karti Chidambaram, in Rs 50 lakh bribery case

By PTI

NEW DELHI: The CBI on Wednesday arrested S Bhaskararaman, a detailed affiliate of Lok Sabha MP Karti Chidambaram, in reference to a Rs 50 lakh alleged bribery case for clearing visas of 263 Chinese nationals working at Talwandi Sabo Power Ltd in Punjab, officers stated.

The bribery incident is reported to have taken place in 2011 when Karti Chidambaram’s father P Chidambaram was the Union residence minister.

The CBI took Bhaskararaman for questioning late Tuesday evening and he was positioned below arrest within the early hours of Wednesday, the officers stated.

The company has alleged that Bhaskaraman was approached by Vikas Makharia, the then affiliate vp of Talwandi Sabo Power Ltd (TSPL), for the reissue of mission visas for 263 Chinese employees working on the Mansa-based energy plant which was within the strategy of being arrange.

The CBI FIR, which comprises a findings of the investigating officer who probed the PE, has alleged that Makharia approached Karti by means of his “close associate/front man” Bhaskararaman, the officers stated.

“They devised a back-door way to defeat the purpose of ceiling (maximum of project visas permissible to the company’s plant) by granting permission to reuse 263 project visas allotted to the said Chinese company’s officials,” they stated.

Project visas had been a particular kind of visa launched in 2010 for the facility and metal sector for which detailed tips had been issued throughout P Chidambaram’s tenure as the house minister however there was no provision of reissue of mission visas, the FIR alleged.

“As per prevalent guidelines, deviation in rare and exceptional cases could be considered and granted only with the approval of the Home Secretary. However, in view of the above circumstances, the deviation in terms of reuse of project visas is likely to be approved by the then Home Minister,” it additional alleged.

Makharia allegedly submitted a letter to the Home Ministry on July 30, 2011, searching for approval to reuse the mission visas allotted to his firm, which was permitted inside a month and permission was issued, the officers stated.

“On August 17, 2011, Makharia, on being directed by Bhaskararaman, sent a copy of the above letter dated July 30, 2011 to him through e-mail which was forwarded to Karti. Bhakaskararaman after discussion with P Chidambaram, the then Home Minister, demanded an illegal gratification of Rs 50 lakh for ensuring the approval,” the FIR alleged.

It alleged that the cost of the stated bribe was routed from TSPL to Karti and Bhaskararaman by means of Mumbai-based Bell Tools Ltd with funds camouflaged below two invoices raised for consultancy and out of pocket bills for Chinese visas associated works.

Makharia had later thanked Karti and Bhaskararaman on e mail, it added.