Karti Chidambaram is a well-known Indian politician and businessman. He’s prominently known as the son of the highly respected Indian politician, P. Chidambaram.

Wiki/Biography

Karti Chidambaram entered the world on Tuesday, November 16, 1971 (age 52 as of 2023), in Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu. His early education was at the prestigious Don Bosco School of Excellence, Egmore, Chennai. He later pursued a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) from the University of Texas, Austin, USA, graduating in 1993. Following this, he enrolled at the University of Cambridge in 1995, earning a Bachelor of Laws degree.

From a young age, he developed a passion for lawn tennis, actively participating in numerous competitions and achieving notable wins. His contributions to the sport extend to his role as Vice-President of the Tamil Nadu Tennis Association and, previously, the All India Tennis Association.

Physical Appearance

Here’s a summary of his physical attributes:

• Height (approx.): 5′ 11″
• Weight (approx.): 90 kg
• Eye Colour: Dark Brown
• Hair Colour: Black

Family, Caste, and Wife

Karti Chidambaram hails from the Nagarathar Caste (also known as Chettiar). His father, P. Chidambaram, is a distinguished figure in Indian politics. His mother, Nalini Chidambaram, is a lawyer. He is married to Srinidi Rangarajan, a talented Bharatnatyam dancer and physician at Apollo Hospitals. Their daughter is Aditi Nalini Chidambaram.

Business Career

Upon returning to India in 1996 after completing his studies, while his father suggested joining his law firm, Karti opted for a different path. He took on an executive role at Manali Petrochemicals Ltd. His entrepreneurial spirit led him to establish numerous companies, both within India and internationally.

Political Career

Karti’s political journey began after returning from the UK. Initially involved with his father’s Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC), he served as his father’s campaign manager. He contested the 2014 general elections in Sivaganga, Tamil Nadu, but was unsuccessful. However, he secured victory in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from the same constituency, becoming a Member of Parliament in the 17th Lok Sabha.

Controversies

Karti’s career has been marked by several controversies:

• Allegations of links to Advantage Strategic Consulting, involved in questionable financial dealings (May 2012).
• Criticism for sharing internal party issues with the media (November 2014).
• Public praise for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, drawing criticism from the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (January 2015).
• Investigation into Vasan Healthcare Group for potential violations of India’s foreign direct investment policy (April 2015).
• Summons from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) related to the Aircel-Maxis case (August 2015).
• Raids on his offices by the ED and Income Tax Department investigating the Aircel-Maxis deal and INX Media links (December 2015).
• Reports of involvement in international business activities in tax havens (February 2016).
• Allegations of owning Advantage Strategic Consulting through frontmen (April 2016).
• CBI charges of cheating, corruption, and FDI policy violations (May 2017).
• Arrest by the CBI’s Economic Offences Wing (February 2018).
• Seizure of properties in India, the UK, and Spain by the ED, linked to the INX Media money laundering case (October 2018).
• Accusations of receiving funds from Talwandi Sabo Power Limited (March 2024).
• Granting of bail in the Talwandi Sabo case (June 2024).

Signature

Assets & Properties

Salary & Net Worth

Salary: 1 Lac INR + allowances (as a Lok Sabha Member)

Net Worth (2019): 79.37 Crores INR

Facts

Karti Chidambaram enjoys reading and playing lawn tennis. He also holds the position of Secretary-General of the Indian Tennis Players Association (ITPA). His business ventures have consistently been accompanied by controversy. He has consistently denied allegations of wrongdoing, attributing them to political motivations.