ED searches Karti Chidambaram’s office

A day after the CBI raided the office of the Principal Secretary to Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday searched the office premises of Karti Chidambaram, the son of former Finance Minister P Chidambaram in connection with its probe against firms owned by his friends.

The ED action invited strong criticism from P Chidambaram who said “nothing was found” in the “fishing and roving” enquiry and he would like to see how far a “foolish” government would go in “harassing” him.

Karti Chidambaram issued a statement that some officers of the investigating agencies visited his office on Wednesday.

“I was informed that they are investigating three firms. Two of the firms belong to my friends. They are owned by professionals and managed by competent Board of Directors. I am not aware of the third firm,” he said in the statement. ED officials said they searched a room they had locked in the office premises of Karti as part of their operation that was executed on December 1. “Some documents have been seized.” Officials said the room could not be opened on December 1 and was sealed. It was opened on Wednesday and Karti was informed accordingly, they said.