Supreme Court issues notices to firms having links with Chidambaram's son Karti

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has issued notices to two firms, in which P Chidambaram's son Karti holds substantial interests, in response to a contempt petition filed by Subramanian Swamy who alleged that the two firms had filed a defamation suit against him in Singapore with the intention of intimidating him and preventing him from pursuing the 2G case in India.

The wholly-owned Singaporean subsidy of Advantage Strategic Consulting India Ltd had filed a defamation case against Swamy even though the Supreme Court had directed that no 2G case be filed in any court other than the top court, according to the contempt plea.

This, he claimed, was tantamount to trying to intimidate him from speaking the truth and a direct interference in the administration of justice.

Swamy had levelled allegations against Chidambaram and Karti in the context of the acquisition of Aircel, a cellular phone company, by Maxis. Swamy had initially sought court intervention in August 2012 leveling allegations of criminal contempt against Chidambaram and his son.

He later added Advantage Strategic Consulting Singapore Pte Ltd which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Indian company which goes by the same name and their MDs to the list of parties .

A two-judge bench, monitoring the 2G case, on Thursday issued notices only to the two companies. The notices will be returnable within 12 weeks.

The Singapore court had asked Swamy to to appear before it on Aug 28, 2012.