CHENNAI: The Madras high court has granted anticipatory bail to Karti Chidambaram, son of former Union minister P Chidambaram, hours after the income tax department issued a warrant against him under the Black Money Act.
Justice A D Jagadish Chandira granted the relief after a brief hearing at his residence around 11.30pm on Saturday.
The issue pertains to three summonses issued by the deputy director of I-T investigation wing under the Black Money Act directing appearance of Karti in connection with an inquiry into the alleged non-disclosure of overseas assets.
As Karti failed to appear, the officer issued a warrant under powers vested under the Black Money Act directing the Nungambakkam police to secure his presence before the investigation officer concerned.
Karti, who was prepared to leave for London with his wife and daughter, approached the Chief Justice Indira Banerjee at his official residence through his counsels — seniors advocates A R L Sundaresh and Satish Parasaran — around 11pm on Saturday.
As the chief justice instructed them to move an application for advance bail before the portfolio judge concerned, a bail application was moved before Justice AD Jagadish Chandira around 11.30pm. Counsel for I-T AP Srinivas was also informed about the bail application.
When the plea was taken up for hearing at Justice Jagadish Chandira’s residence, Srinivas submitted that the petitioner had already secured permission form the Supreme Court to travel abroad through an order dated May 18. “Now if he gives undertaking that he would appear before the I-T officer concerned after his return from abroad on a particular day, the department is ready to keep the warrant in abeyance,” Srinivas said.
Prasanta Patnaik 
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