SC allows Karti to visit UK for daughter's admission

The Supreme Court on Monday allowed Karti Chidambaram, son of former Union finance minister P Chidambaram, to go to the United Kingdom between December 1 and 10 for his daughter's admission to a Cambridge University college.

The court, however, directed him to file an undertaking within three days that he would return by December 10 or "he shall face such consequences as may be deemed fit and proper". He was told to furnish his flight details too.

A three-judge bench presided over by Chief Justice Dipak Misra passed the order after Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the CBI, submitted that he would be allowed on certain terms and conditions.

"The respondent (Karti) must clearly understand the present order is passed as an ad interim measure... therefore, this order should not be cited in any court of law to further any kind of cause that will hinder the investigation or anything else," the bench, also comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, said.

Karti is facing a lookout circular following a CBI FIR on May 16 relating to FIPB clearance to INX Media for receiving Rs 305 crore during the tenure of his father as finance minister. Karti had sought court's permission to visit the UK for admission of his daughter at Selwyn College.

The court also directed Karti to file an affidavit on his return with regard to the grant or non-grant of admission. It put the matter for further consideration in the third week of January.