Karti refuses to appear before CBI; ‘grill me’, says Chidambaram

Karti Chidambaram, the son of former finance minister P Chidambaram, on Thursday refused to appear before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the Aircel Maxis case, stating that a special court had discharged all the accused and terminated proceedings in the matter.

The CBI, however, clarified that the investigation is continuing and the First Information Report on the matter hasn't been quashed by the court.

CBI Spokesperson Abhishek Dayal was quoted by PTI as saying, ''FIR RC-22(A)/2011-DLI has not been quashed by the court and further investigation under 173(8) of the CrPC is continuing.''

''Court proceedings are still pending. Request has been placed before the Interpol for issuance of Red Notices against the two Malaysian national,'' he added.

Karti wrote to the CBI stating that as per a notice issued on 2 February 2017, the agency does not have any jurisdiction to issue a summons to him.

The letter further said that he has no knowledge or connection with the subject matter of the said case and hence, he has nothing to add to the statement he made earlier.

"I deny any knowledge or any connection with the subject matter of the said case. Hence, my client has nothing to add to the statement he made before you on 19-11-2014," the letter from by Karti's counsel read.

The letter further stated that his appearance should not be insisted before the court.

Karti also requested the CBI to withdraw the notice dated 7 September 2017, issued under Section 160 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

Former finance minister and Karti's father P Chidambaram today said that the CBI Investigation should question him and not harass Karti in connection with its probe into the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance given to the Aircel-Maxis deal in 2006.

''In Aircel-Maxis, FIPB recommended and I approved minutes. CBI should question me and not harass Karti Chidambaram,'' P Chidambaram said.

Accusing the agency of spreading misinformation, P Chidambaram tweeted, ''Sad CBI spreading misinformation. In Aircel-Maxis, FIPB officials have recorded statements before CBI that approval given was valid.''

On Wednesday, the CBI had summoned Karti in connection with a money laundering probe in the Aircel-Maxis deal. He was earlier summoned by the CBI on 21 July. (See: CBI calls Karti Chidambaram for grilling in Aircel-Maxis case)

Karti has accused the CBI of hatching a conspiracy against him out of frustration at being unable to prove anything against him and his father in connection with the matter.

The Aircel-Maxis case involves a series of allegations of kickbacks in the telecom sector, which was part of the wider 2G scam that engulfed the previous UPA regime. In 2011, former Aircel head C Sivasankaran complained to the CBI that he was being forced by the then telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran to sell Aircel to the Malaysia-based Maxis Communications group owned by T Ananda Krishnan.

In February, the then communication minister, Dayanidhi Maran, and the others accused in the Aircel-Maxis case were discharged by a special CBI court.