A court in Delhi’s Patiala House Courts complex on Tuesday extended till October 8
the interim protection from arrest granted to former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram in the Aircel-Maxis case. The order pertains to cases filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate, ANI reported.
On July 31, the court granted the Central Bureau of Investigation time till October 1 to obtain sanctions from authorities to prosecute some of the accused in the case. The agency had filed a new chargesheet on July 19 against 18 people, including the former minister and his son. The chargesheet also names retired and serving government officials.
The CBI, in its new chargesheet, said it has discovered two sets of money trails in connection with the Foreign Investment Promotion Board’s clearances in the Aircel-Maxis deal. The board had allowed M/S Global Communication Holding Services Ltd to invest in Aircel in 2006. Karti Chidambaram allegedly facilitated the payment of bribes during the transaction. The investigative agency is also looking into why P Chidambaram, who was then the finance minister, approved the investment when only the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs can give the green signal.
On July 10, the court granted P Chidambaram and Karti Chidambaram interim protection from arrest till August 7. On June 5, the Enforcement Directorate recorded the Congress leader’s statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. P Chidambaram had then claimed that he was being investigated even though there is no First Information Report against him.
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