New Delhi, Dec 18 (UNI) A Delhi court on Tuesday after hearing the submission on behalf of Central Bureau of Investigation and Directorate of Enforcement extended the interim protection to former Finance Minister P Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram in the Aircel Maxis case.
In this matter 46-year-old Karti Chidambaram was arrested in the month of February this year on the charges of money laundering but was granted bail.
Aircel Maxis deal case emerged out of 2 G spectrum cases pertains to a grant by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) to M/S Global Communication Holding Services Ltd for investment in Aircel.
Directorate of Enforcement in this matter has alleged that the FIPB approval granted in Aircel Maxis case in March 2006 by Mr Chidambaram was beyond his mandate as he was only authorised to accord approval on project proposals up to Rs 600 crore and beyond that it required the approval of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA).
After filing the chargesheet on October, 25 Directorate of Enforcement submitted before the court that an alleged payment of Rs 26 lakh was made by Aircel Televentures Limited to ASCPL, a firm allegedly linked to Karti, within a few days of this FIPB approval and it is investigating "the circumstances of said FIPB approval granted by the then Finance Minister (Chidambaram)".
Directorate of Enforcement has filed charge sheet against total of nine people including Mr Chidambaram.
In July CBI had chargesheeted Mr Chidambaram in the Aircel-Maxis case. His son Karti Chidambaram who is out on bail in the INX Media case was also named in the chargesheet filed before Special CBI Judge at Patiala House court. The Investigating Agency was investigating the case of Aircel Maxis deal of Rs 3500 crore and the INX Media case involving Rs 305 crore.
It has submitted by the Investigating Agency that there is evidence to prove that Mr Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram closed bank accounts in foreign countries after chargesheet was filed in the case.
Mr Chidambaram is accused no 1 in the Aircel Maxis case involving approvals from FIPB or the Foreign Investment Promotion Board that were allegedly illegal. Mr Chidambaram is accused of misusing his office as finance minister in the Congress government to clear foreign investment deals in exchange for which his son Karti Chidambaram was given kickbacks.
Central Bureau of Investigation has alleged through its chargesheet that two illegal payments of Rs 26 lakhs and Rs 87 lakhs were paid to Karti Chidambaram’s companies Chess Management and Advantage Strategic (allegedly indirectly owned by him) during the Aircel Maxis deal for the FIPB clearance when his father P Chidamabarm was the Finance Minister.
Counsel for CBI and Directorate of Enforcement today submitted before the court that new material has been recovered which needs to collated.
Special Judge O.P. Saini today after hearing the submission on behalf of the Prosecution granted time to CBI to get sanction to prosecute some of people accused in the case and further extended the protection from arrest to Chidambarams till January, 11.
UNI XC ADG 1431