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Published 15:40 IST, August 22nd 2019

Chidambaram arrested, Karti's plush Spanish villa photos accessed

P. Chidambaram's CBI arrest raised questions over the family's foreign assets, amid that, Republic accessed photos of son Karti's luxurious Spanish villa.

Reported by: Aishwaria Sonavane
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P. Chidambaram
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Amid P. Chidambaram being apprehended and taken into the CBI custody in the INX Media scam and the current cases going under the name of the former Union Minister and his son, Karti Chidambaram, questions have been raised over the foreign assets of their family. 

Recently, Republic accessed the photos of the plush Spanish villa of the Chidambaram family. An opulent villa in the countryside of Spain includes a living room with a fireplace, an outdoor setting, a massive courtyard, wooden kitchen.

HERE ARE THE PHOTOS: 

Chidambaram's CBI interrogation 

As per sources, during the Congress leader's interrogation with the CBI, Chidambaram has denied putting any pressure on FIPB officials and has further asserted that he has no interference in his son, Karti's business. Former Home Minister P. Chidambaram has refused to recall any meeting with Peter and Indrani Mukherjea in March-April, 2007. 

According to Republic reports, P. Chidambaram mostly remained quiet on Wednesday night, and hardly spoke to the CBI officials and doctors during his medical check-up after he was arrested and taken to the CBI Headquarters. 

READ| Chidambaram arrested, Karti accuses: Of course BJP- who else, Trump?

P. Chidambaram at CBI Headquarters post his arrest: 

Wednesday night, Chidambaram was taken into custody from his residence, after the former Home Minister returned from the AICC press brief. Following which, Chidambaram was questioned by the doctors over his medical history and if he was under any medication. His blood pressure and other vital medical information were noted as well. As per sources, Chidambaram kept his responses short and maintained his silence over the queries of the CBI officials. Over security concerns, the senior Congress leader's medical examination was conducted at the CBI Headquarters by RML Hospital Medical team led by the Medical Superintendent at around 11 PM after the 'kingpin' was arrested at around 10 PM on Wednesday night. 

Chidambaram was kept in Suit 5 of the CBI Headquarters with CCTVs, the feed of which was accessed in the control room and even two CBI officials, who remained outside his room the entire time.  The senior Congress leader has been taken to the Economic Offences Unit where his formal questioning would begin. However, the questioning would be conducted only post 10 AM on Thursday by the investigation team led by Parthasarathy, Dy SP.  P. Chidambaram will be produced at Special CBI Court, Rouse Avenue around 4 PM after his interrogation

Son, Karti Chidambaram's stand

Calling the entire phenomenon a politically motivated "witch-hunt" to silence his father, who has been a vocal critic of the PM Modi government, Karti said, "It has been done only to tarnish the image of Congress party and to try to silence the most vehement critic of this government. My father has been the most vehement, articulate and vocal critic of this government. This has been done to silence him." 

READ| Chidambaram arrested: How Congress reacted during the high drama

"It has no legal basis and it is a trumped-up charge. The event happened in 2008, for which FIR was filed nine years later in 2017. Following this, I have been summoned 20 times, I have been raided four times, Nobody in Indian history been raided so many times. I was also in CBI custody for eleven days. Everyone associated with me, even causal acquaintances have been summoned and they still don't have the case," he added. 

Playing the victim, Karti further mentioned that they were being 'targeted' saying, "First of all, there is no legal requirement for my father to be available for anybody what happened on Tuesday was the anticipatory bail plea hearing happened which was filed on May 2018 and arguments were closed on January 2019 where the judgment was reserved for seven months. The judgment came out, there was no requirement to appear before anybody. Never has the CBI given two-hour notice, I have been summoned by CBI 20 times, I was given a week to appear before them; he has not been evading, please don't be wrong on facts."

READ| Chidambaram's son Karti: 'Never met Peter or Indrani, don't know FIPB'

INX Media case

While holding the portfolio of the Finance Minister under the UPA government in March-May 2007, Chidambaram was aware that FIPB only gave approval of 4.61 crores FDI to INX media, but they managed to illegally bring Rs 335 crore. The former Union Minister will be questioned over Indrani Mukerjea's statement which reads that once FIPB rejected INX media request to bring FDI, the couple (Indrani and Peter) allegedly met him at north block and subsequently Karti Chidambaram in a five-star hotel. 

14:32 IST, August 22nd 2019