ED sends notice to former FM P Chidambaram in aviation scam case
19 Aug 2019
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The case pertains to purchase of 111 aircraft from Boeing and Airbus at Rs 70,000 crore, ceding of profitable routes and schedules to private airlines and opening of training institutes with foreign investment.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has sent notice to former finance minister P Chidambaram in the aviation scam case, which pertains to purchase of 111 aircraft from Boeing and Airbus at Rs70,000 crore, ceding of profitable routes and schedules to private airlines and opening of training institutes with foreign investment.
The CBI had, last week, summoned former civil aviation minister Praful Patel for allegedly favouring foreign private airlines over national carrier Air India. Patel was reportedly in constant touch with aviation lobbyist Deepak Talwar, who acted as a middleman negotiating with Patel in favour of the foreign airlines.
Patel, was the civil aviation minister between 2004 and 2011.
Talwar, was extradited to India from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in January this year and is currently in judicial custody.
Chidambaram and his son Karti are also being probed by the investigative agencies in Aircel-Maxis cases.
Chidambaram, then Union finance minister, allegedly gave Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approval in the Aircel-Maxis FDI in March 2006 even though he was empowered to accord approval on project proposals only up to Rs600 crore. Beyond the limit it required the approval of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA).
