The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday told the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/supreme-court-orders-floor-test-in-maharashtra-assembly-to-be-held-on-wednesday-264543">Supreme Court</a> that former finance minister <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/tale-of-two-political-stalwarts-arun-jaitley-and-p-chidambaram-248575">P Chidambaram</a>`s Benami properties outside India can be traced to him. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the ED, told the apex court, "There are Benami properties outside India which can be traced to him.

Sixteen companies were involved in laundering and modifying the shareholding pattern. Twelve foreign bank accounts were connected, twelve foreign properties were identified and properties were found in sixteen countries which can be linked to Chidambaram."

The top court was hearing Chidambaram`s petition challenging the Delhi High Court November 15 verdict which denied him bail in the case being probed by the ED. He sought bail in a case pertaining to the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance given to INX Media to the tune of Rs 305 crore in 2007 during his tenure as the finance minister.

Mehta further told the court that besides INX Media "there are other companies that also applied for FIPB approvals".Opposing his bail plea, Additional Solicitor General KM Natraj also said that there is "direct involvement" of Chidambaram in the case and he influenced witnesses not to participate in the investigation.

"Gravity of offence must be taken into the note; he has control over very crucial witnesses. The witnesses are not ready to come face to face." Mehta told the top court. He also said that the High court`s findings that he has not influenced the witnesses are "factually incorrect"."Witnesses are vulnerable if Chidambaram is granted bail.

They did not turn up for confrontation with P Chidambaram, because of the power he used, fear he invoked in the mind of witnesses," Mehta added. The Solicitor General further added that the charge sheet in the case will soon be filed.

"Investigation in the present case is undergoing and at a very crucial stage," he added. The Congress leader was first arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on August 21 in the INX Media corruption case but was granted bail by the Supreme Court two months later. He was arrested by the ED in the money laundering case on October 16.

A special court yesterday extended his judicial custody in Tihar jail till December 11.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday told the Supreme Court that former finance minister P Chidambaram`s Benami properties outside India can be traced to him.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday told the Supreme Court that former finance minister P Chidambaram`s Benami properties outside India can be traced to him. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the ED, told the apex court, "There are Benami properties outside India which can be traced to him. Sixteen companies were involved in laundering and modifying the shareholding pattern. Twelve foreign bank accounts were connected, twelve foreign properties were identified and properties were found in sixteen countries which can be linked to Chidambaram." The top court was hearing Chidambaram`s petition challenging the Delhi High Court November 15 verdict which denied him bail in the case being probed by the ED. He sought bail in a case pertaining to the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance given to INX Media to the tune of Rs 305 crore in 2007 during his tenure as the finance minister. Mehta further told the court that besides INX Media "there are other companies that also applied for FIPB approvals".Opposing his bail plea, Additional Solicitor General KM Natraj also said that there is "direct involvement" of Chidambaram in the case and he influenced witnesses not to participate in the investigation. "Gravity of offence must be taken into the note; he has control over very crucial witnesses. The witnesses are not ready to come face to face." Mehta told the top court. He also said that the High court`s findings that he has not influenced the witnesses are "factually incorrect"."Witnesses are vulnerable if Chidambaram is granted bail. They did not turn up for confrontation with P Chidambaram, because of the power he used, fear he invoked in the mind of witnesses," Mehta added. The Solicitor General further added that the charge sheet in the case will soon be filed. "Investigation in the present case is undergoing and at a very crucial stage," he added. The Congress leader was first arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on August 21 in the INX Media corruption case but was granted bail by the Supreme Court two months later. He was arrested by the ED in the money laundering case on October 16. A special court yesterday extended his judicial custody in Tihar jail till December 11.

There are benami properties outside India which can be traced to Chidambaram: ED to SC

Vowing to carry forward the war against corruption and black money post-demonetisation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the government would soon operationalise a strong law to effectively deal with &#39;benami&#39; properties and this was just the beginning.

Making his last monthly address this year in his &quot;Mann ki Baat&quot; programme, the prime minister defended the frequent changes in the rules of demonetisation, saying these have been done to reduce the people&#39;s problems and defeat such forces who are out to thwart his government&#39;s fight against black money and corruption.

Modi sought the cooperation of public in making the &quot;war on corruption&quot; a success and said the wrongdoings of some are being caught only with the support of common people who are coming forward with concrete information about hoarders.

&quot;I assure you that this is not the end. This is just the beginning in our fight against corruption. We have to win this war against corruption and black money. There is no question of stopping or going back in this fight,&quot; he said.

The prime minister also lamented the logjam in Parliament that evoked displeasure from the president and the vice president besides all-round public indignation and ire, saying he wanted a good discussion on this campaign as well as on political funding, had both Houses run properly.

He said some people who are spreading rumours that political parties enjoy all concessions and exemptions &quot;are wrong and all are equal before law&quot; and they have to abide by it.

&quot;It was my earnest wish that the ongoing campaign against corruption and black money, including the realm of political parties and political funding, be discussed extensively in the Parliament. Had the House functioned properly, there would have been comprehensive deliberation.

&quot;Some people are spreading rumours that political parties enjoy all kinds of concessions. These people are absolutely in the wrong. The law applies equally to all. Whether it is an individual, an organisation or a political party, everyone has to abide by law and one will have to,&quot; he said, adding that people who cannot endorse corruption and black money openly resort to searching for faults of the government relentlessly.

Giving a push to his plea for cashless economy, Modi also launched two new schemes for traders and customers that will dole out 15,000 prizes every day to those making digital transactions. 
 
(PTI) 
&nbsp;

Modi also defended the frequent changes in the rules of demonetisation, saying these had been done to reduce people's problems

Vowing to carry forward the war against corruption and black money post-demonetisation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the government would soon operationalise a strong law to effectively deal with 'benami' properties and this was just the beginning. Making his last monthly address this year in his "Mann ki Baat" programme, the prime minister defended the frequent changes in the rules of demonetisation, saying these have been done to reduce the people's problems and defeat such forces who are out to thwart his government's fight against black money and corruption. Modi sought the cooperation of public in making the "war on corruption" a success and said the wrongdoings of some are being caught only with the support of common people who are coming forward with concrete information about hoarders. "I assure you that this is not the end. This is just the beginning in our fight against corruption. We have to win this war against corruption and black money. There is no question of stopping or going back in this fight," he said. The prime minister also lamented the logjam in Parliament that evoked displeasure from the president and the vice president besides all-round public indignation and ire, saying he wanted a good discussion on this campaign as well as on political funding, had both Houses run properly. He said some people who are spreading rumours that political parties enjoy all concessions and exemptions "are wrong and all are equal before law" and they have to abide by it. "It was my earnest wish that the ongoing campaign against corruption and black money, including the realm of political parties and political funding, be discussed extensively in the Parliament. Had the House functioned properly, there would have been comprehensive deliberation. "Some people are spreading rumours that political parties enjoy all kinds of concessions. These people are absolutely in the wrong. The law applies equally to all. Whether it is an individual, an organisation or a political party, everyone has to abide by law and one will have to," he said, adding that people who cannot endorse corruption and black money openly resort to searching for faults of the government relentlessly. Giving a push to his plea for cashless economy, Modi also launched two new schemes for traders and customers that will dole out 15,000 prizes every day to those making digital transactions. (PTI)

PM Modi vows strong law against fictitious properties soon

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