Nalini Chidambaram is a senior Indian advocate practicing law in the Madras High Court and the Supreme Court of India. She is the wife of the former Finance Minister of India, P. Chidambaram.
Wiki/Biography
Nalini Chidambaram was born in 1946 (age 73 years; as in 2019) in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. He had his primary education in Chennai from Vidyodaya School and Stella Maris College. He went on to study for a Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics from the University of Madras. His father was a judge in the Madras High Court, and he encouraged him to pursue law as a career. He obtained his Bachelor of Laws from the Madras College of Law.
Nalini Chidambaram during her youth
Physical appearance
Height (approx): 5′ 5″
Weight (approx): 65 kg
Eye Color: Black
Hair Color: Black
Family, Caste, and Husband
Nalini Chidambaram belongs to the Kongu Vellalar Caste Hindu Family (Vellalar Community). His father, PS Kailasam, is a retired Supreme Court Judge. His mother, Soundara Kailasam, was a Tamil Poet and Orator. He has 2 younger sisters, Vimala Ramalingam (Elder; Pediatrician) and Padmini Sivasubramanian (Younger; Agriculturist). He has an elder brother, Sadayavel Kailasam, who is an Orthopedic Surgeon.
Parents of Nalini Chidambaram PS Kailasam and Soundara Kailasam
Brother Nalini Chidambaram Sadayavel Kailasam
Nalini met P. Chidambaram at the University of Madras in the Faculty of Law, and she fell in love with him. They are of different castes, therefore, both their parents did not approve of their marriage. Nalini and Chidambaram had to elope, and they married on 11 December 1968. They had a son, Karti Chidambaram.
Nalini Chidambaram with her husband P Chidambaram
Nalini Chidambaram with her son Karti Chidambaram
Career
After completing her studies, Nalini wants to practice law under a senior advocate. He approached many senior lawyers (including his uncle), but they all refused to train him. They stated that they did not want junior women. After her marriage, she, along with P. Chidambaram, found a lawyer named Dr KK Venugopal. Initially, Venugopal was not interested in training her, but later, he agreed to train Nalini and Chidambaram together.
In his early years, he was not very successful as a lawyer. She was disturbed because she was newly married, and within a few years, she also had her son, Karti Chidambaram. She took a break after giving birth to her son, and then, she resumed her career. He worked hard, and he became a successful lawyer in a few years. In 1990, she became the first woman to be appointed as a Senior Advocate in the Madras Bar Association. 
Soon, he started practicing in the Madras High Court, and later, he started practicing in the Supreme Court of India as well. He specializes in cases related to income tax and finance. He prefers to appear in writ petitions rather than in civil matters.
Nalini Chidambaram on her way to the Court
Controversy
- In July 1992, he invested in a company involved in a stock market scam. Reportedly, he knew about the fraud, and still, he invested money in it, instead of reporting it. It turned into a huge controversy after it came to light. P. Chidambaram had to resign as Minister of State for Commerce because of this controversy.
- In 2005, he was appointed as senior legal advisor to the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT). Many political leaders raised the issue of his appointment in parliament, stating that the appointment fell directly under P. Chidambaram’s ministry, and that he used his influence to appoint his wife. The opposition also demanded his resignation.
- On 21 September 2014, the CBI named Nalini in the “Sharda Chit Fund Scam”. It stated that the payment of INR 1.40 Crores as legal fees to it by the Sharda Group is under investigation.
- On 11 May 2018, under the Black Money Act, the Income Tax Department filed a charge sheet against Nalini Chidambaram. The chargesheet accused him of not disclosing his assets in the UK worth INR 5.37 Crores.
- On 11 January 2019, the CBI filed a chargesheet against him, and he was summoned by the ED, for his involvement in the “Sharda Chit Fund Scam”. He has allegedly accepted a bribe of INR 1.40 Crores from the Sharda Group of Companies to advise them on how to siphon money. Reportedly, he was involved in a conspiracy with Sudipta Sen (Owner of Sharda Group) and others with intent to defraud and for misappropriation of funds.
Address
16, Pycrofts Park Road, Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Nalini Chidambaram’s house in Chennai
Car Collection
Nalini Chidambaram owns a Toyota Innova (2012 Model)
Assets/Property
Cash
Bank Deposit
Jewellery
- 1437 gm Gold worth 39.17 Lacs INR, 52 kg Silver worth 20.46 Lacs INR and Diamonds of 76.61 carats worth 22.98 Lacs INR
Agricultural land
- worth INR 2 Crores in Karnataka
- worth 14 Lacs INR in Sivaganga, Tamil Nadu
- worth 21.45 Lacs INR in Sivaganga, Tamil Nadu
Commercial building
- worth 45 Lacs INR in Sivaganga, Tamil Nadu
Residential Building
- worth INR 4.04 Crores in Sivaganga, Tamil Nadu
- worth 16.05 Crores INR in Jor Bagh, New Delhi
Facts
- His mother, Soundara Kailasam was a famous Tamil poet and orator. On 16 October 2010, when his mother died, many top leaders of Tamil Nadu including M. Karunanidhi, visited to pay their last respects.
M. Karunanidhi paid his last respects to Nalini Chidambaram’s mother Soundara Kailasam
- Nalini likes politics, but she doesn’t want to get involved in active politics.
- He was offered to be a judge several times, but he declined the offer. She often campaigned with her husband, and she once stated that if she became a judge, she would lose her ability to speak freely about politics.
- Once, in an interview, he stated-
I like to argue, hence, I decided to become a lawyer instead of a judge”
Categories: Biography
Source: SCHOOL TRANG DAI
