Congress MP Karti Chidambaram has moved the Delhi High Court challenging a trial court order framing charges against him in connection with the Chinese visa scam case. The matter was listed for hearing today before Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma but was adjourned to January 19.
A Delhi court on December 23 framed charges against Sivaganga Lok Sabha Congress MP Karti Chidambaram for offences including criminal conspiracy, destruction of evidence, corruption, and bribing a public servant in a case related to visas issued to Chinese nationals. Charges were framed against Karti Chidambaram, son of former Union Minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, along with six other accused.
Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh of the Rouse Avenue Courts framed charges against Karti, his alleged close aide and chartered accountant S Bhaskar Raman, and five other accused persons. One of the accused, Chetan Shrivastava, was discharged of all charges pressed against him by the Central Bureau of Investigation, which is probing the case.
In October 2025, the CBI filed a charge sheet against Karti Chidambaram and others in connection with alleged bribery in facilitating visas for Chinese nationals employed by power company Talwandi Sabo Power Ltd (TSPL) in 2011, when P Chidambaram was the Union Home Minister. TSPL is a subsidiary of Vedanta, and Bell Tools was allegedly used to route the bribes.
The probe agency found that Karti had facilitated visas for around 250 Chinese nationals to work at a power plant in India in 2011. The CBI alleged that Karti used his influence to get the work done and received ₹50 lakh per person in return.
Delhi court ordered the framing of charges of criminal conspiracy and corruption against Congress MP Karti Chidambaram and 6 others in the Chinese visa scam case.
The case stems from alleged bribery in 2011 to facilitate additional and reused project visas for #Chinese… pic.twitter.com/pMmXdNgHEs
— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) December 23, 2025
In its 98-page order, the court observed that it “need not even determine whether the evidence” was sufficient to support a conviction at this stage. It stated that such considerations would arise after evidence is recorded, and that at the stage of framing charges, the court only has to consider the broad probabilities, the overall effect of the evidence and documents produced, and any basic infirmities in the case, without conducting a roving inquiry.
In the charge sheet filed in October, the CBI stated that Bhaskar Raman acted as an agent of Karti Chidambaram. Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh noted that since the case was at the stage of deciding charges, the court need not weigh the evidence as if delivering a final judgment. He observed that at this stage, a mini trial is not required and the court only needs to determine whether the material collected reflects strong suspicion or establishes a prima facie case against the accused.
The court further noted that the approver had allegedly approached Karti in 2011 to secure 800 additional project visas for TSPL, believing that Karti had access to the Union Home Ministry due to his father’s position. It was alleged that Bhaskar Raman demanded and received a bribe of ₹50 lakh, after which the approver called Karti to thank him. Karti allegedly confirmed that the payment had been received.
The court held that the material established a strong suspicion against Accused No. 2, rejecting his plea for discharge. It said prima facie sufficient material existed to frame charges for criminal conspiracy under Section 120B IPC, read with Section 204 IPC, and Sections 8 and 9 of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
