New Delhi:
The CBI has registered a recent case of corruption towards former finance minister P Chidambaram’s son and Congress MP, Karti Chidambaram, for allegedly giving reduction to alcoholic beverage firm Diageo Scotland over a ban on the duty-free sale of its whisky, officers mentioned Thursday.
The case pertains to an alleged suspicious cost made to Benefit Strategic Consulting Pvt. Ltd, “an entity managed” by Karti P Chidambaram and his shut aide S Bhaskararaman by Diageo Scotland and Sequoia Capitals, the CBI FIR mentioned.
“Enquiry revealed that out of varied proposals of FIPB enquired into, it was discovered that Diageo Scotland and Sequoia Capitals have suspiciously transferred funds to Benefit Strategic Consulting Pvt. Ltd., an entity managed by Sh. Karti P Chidambaram and his shut aide S Bhaskararaman,” it mentioned.
The company alleged that its enquiry has discovered that Diageo Scotland, UK used to import duty-free Johnnie Walker whisky.
No rapid response was obtainable from the suspects named within the FIR.
In April 2005, the India Tourism Growth Company (ITDC), which had a monopoly over the sale of imported duty-free liquor in India, put an embargo on the sale of the Diageo Group’s duty-free merchandise in India, which resulted in an enormous loss to Diageo Scotland as 70 per cent of its enterprise in India pertained to the sale of Johnnie Walker whisky, the company alleged.
The CBI FIR alleged that Diageo Scotland approached Karti Chidambaram, in search of assist in lifting the ban and made funds of USD 15,000 to Benefit Strategic Consulting, which took it within the guise of “consultancy payment”.
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