Chennai, Aug 16 : The Madras High Court today reserved its orders to August 23, to decide on the maintainability of the petition filed by Karti Chidambaram, son of former Union Minister P Chidambaram, challenging the LOC issued against him in connection with a case filed by Enforcement Directorate (ED) on granting FIPB clearances to INX Media. When the petition filed by Karti came up for hearing, Mr Justice M Duraisamy, after hearing arguments from both the sides, reserved his orders to August 23. Justifying its action, the Central government submitted that the LOC was issued to prevent him from fleeing abroad following the experience faced in liquor baron Vijay Mallya's case, and also keeping in mind that Karti has to face the CBI also in the case. Karti, in his August four petition challenging the July 18 LOC, had submitted that Foreigner Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) at the Bureau of Immigration in the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has issued the LOC against him arbitrarily and without jurisdiction. 'The LOC dated July 18 has been issued under Section 10B of the Passport Act at the behest of different agencies', he contended. According to the CBI, a firm "indirectly controlled" by Karti had received money from the media house, run by Indrani and Peter Mukerjea. The agency had earlier issued summons to Karti and four others for questioning on June 27 and June 29, but Karti, had sought more time, following which fresh summons were issued on July 18. The CBI had registered a FIR against Karti and INX Media along with eight others for alleged irregularities in granting FIPB clearance to the media house for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in 2007. In May, CBI conducted raids on the residential and business premises of Karti in Chennai in connection with the case. Following the raids, Mr Chidambaram accused the Centre of targetting his son to silence his voice. UNI
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