Karti Chidambaram, a Congress leader, has written to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, alleging that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) violated his privileges and rights as a member by seizing work documents during a raid last week.
I was the victim of plainly illegal and unconstitutional behaviour. The Central Bureau of Investigation paid a visit to my residence in Delhi under the premise of conducting an investigation into an 11-year-old government of India decision in which I played no part. "In a letter to Om Birla, he wrote:
"During this ostensibly raid, select CBI personnel seized my extremely classified and sensitive personal notes and files related to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Information and Technology, of which I am a member," Mr Chidambaram said.
"Surprisingly, my draught notes and questions that I had planned to ask witnesses summoned to the Committee were also taken." Furthermore. "For reasons best known to the Agency, my handwritten notes relevant to the depositions made to the Committee by Witnesses were likewise taken," he stated.
"The CBI's actions amount to a direct assault on the democratic ideals upon which our Parliament is established insofar as they conflict with my duty as a Parliamentarian." As a result, I implore you to take prompt notice of this matter, which is a flagrant violation of my parliamentary privilege "The Congressman went on to say.
Over the last few years, Mr Chidambaram and his family have been "targets of a persistent campaign by the current Government and its Investigative Agencies, who are trying to suppress our voices of dissent by foisting one phoney case after another," he added.
"Targeting a Member of the House in this manner is a breach of privilege," he said.