Graft Case Tracker

India

Karti Chidambaram: Chinese visa case (TSPL project visas) case status

Member of Parliament (Congress) for Sivaganga when charged. His father P. Chidambaram headed the Home Ministry at the time of the alleged offence. The CBI alleges that Rs 50 lakh was demanded through his associate S. Bhaskararaman in 2011 to facilitate the reuse of 263 project visas for Chinese workers at a Talwandi Sabo Power Ltd plant.

Status: ChargedOn 23 December 2025 a special CBI court ordered charges framed against him and six others. His petition challenging that order was pending in the Delhi High Court, which in August 2026 told the trial court to defer recording evidence until 8 October 2026.
Country
India
Agency
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)
Court
Special Judge (CBI), Rouse Avenue Courts, New Delhi, with a challenge in the Delhi High Court
Status date
21 August 2026
Amount alleged
INR 5,000,000

Case history

  1. The CBI registered an FIR.1
  2. The CBI filed a charge sheet.1
  3. The special CBI court ordered charges framed against seven accused, including Karti Chidambaram, for criminal conspiracy and discharged one accused.1,2
  4. His petition against the charge order was listed before the Delhi High Court and adjourned to 19 January 2026.2
  5. Justice Girish Kathpalia recused himself, the third Delhi High Court judge to step aside after Justices Swarana Kanta Sharma and Anup J Bhambhani.3
  6. The Pioneer reported that Justice Manoj Jain issued notice on his plea and directed the trial court to defer recording evidence until 8 October 2026.4

Response

His High Court plea says "there is no material which would show any suspicion, let alone grave suspicion" and denies any demand for gratification (LiveLaw).

Sources

  1. The Week (PTI), Delhi court orders framing of charges against Cong MP Karti Chidambaram in Chinese visa scam case (23 December 2025)
  2. LiveLaw, Chinese Visa Scam: Karti Chidambaram moves Delhi High Court against framing of charges in CBI case (15 January 2026)
  3. ETV Bharat, HC judge recuses self from hearing Karti Chidambaram's plea in Chinese visa case (23 January 2026)
  4. The Pioneer, Delhi HC asks trial court to defer evidence in Chinese visa case against Karti Chidambaram (21 August 2026)

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