Karti Chidambaram seeks quashing of CBI FIR over alleged relief to Diageo in duty-free whisky sales. Hearing deferred to August 12 after prosecutor cites related pending matters.
NEW DELHI: On August 4, the Delhi High Court will now hear on August 12 the plea filed by Congress MP Karti Chidambaram, who is seeking to cancel a CBI FIR registered against him. The FIR alleges that Karti misused his position to help Diageo Scotland Ltd., a well-known alcoholic beverage company, get relief from a government ban, which allowed it to continue selling its whisky through duty-free shops.
The hearing was earlier scheduled for Monday, but Justice Ravinder Dudeja postponed it after the public prosecutor requested an adjournment.
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The prosecutor explained that other related cases are already listed for August 12, so it would be better to hear this matter on the same date.
In his petition, Karti Chidambaram has strongly challenged the case filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
He said that the FIR is not only illegal but also deliberately delayed, having been filed on January 1 of this year — a long time after the events in question allegedly occurred.
Karti has alleged that the case is politically motivated and aimed at settling scores because of the change in government. He said the complaint is an example of
“political vendetta and regime revenge”.
He further stated that there has been a “gross delay” in filing the FIR and argued that the entire investigation is “malafide”, meaning it has been initiated with bad intent rather than genuine legal reasons.
Background of the Case
The case against Congress MP Karti Chidambaram stems from allegations that he used his influence to benefit Diageo Scotland Ltd., a leading alcoholic beverage company, by helping lift restrictions that had been imposed on its operations in India.
According to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Karti allegedly facilitated undue relief for the company, allowing it to continue the duty-free sale of its whisky, despite regulatory restrictions.
The CBI filed a First Information Report (FIR) on January 1, 2025, alleging that Karti played a key role in overriding the official ban, potentially misusing his position and engaging in corrupt practices.
The FIR accuses him of facilitating favors in exchange for unspecified benefits, though no clear evidence of such a quid pro quo has yet been publicly disclosed.
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Karti, in response, has moved the Delhi High Court seeking to quash the FIR, claiming that the case is baseless, filed with malafide intent, and part of a politically driven campaign against him.
He argues that there has been an unjustified delay in lodging the FIR, which further indicates “political vendetta and regime revenge.”
Case Title:
Karti P. Chidambaram v. CBI
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