Aircel-Maxis case: CBI gets govt sanction to prosecute Chidambaram
26 Nov 2018
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The CBI, which is investigating the alleged irregularities in grant of FIPB approval in Aircel-Maxis deal, today informed a Delhi court that it has received the requisite sanction from the authorities concerned to prosecute former Union minister P Chidambaram in the case.
During the hearing at the Patiala House court, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court that they have received sanctions to prosecute Chidambaram in the alleged irregularities in grant of FIPB approval in Aircel-Maxis deal..
The court, however, extended bail protection granted to Chidambaram and his son Karthi Chidambaram till 18 December. The CBI said it needed two weeks to get sanction against other accused in the case.
P Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram have been charged with money laundering, under sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
The CBI is probing alleged irregularities in grant of FIPB approval in Aircel-Maxis deal.
This is a major blow to the former union minister
ASG Mehta also informed that out of the 18 accused, sanctions against five former government servants are awaited whereas there is no requirement of sanction to prosecute the other 12 accused as they are private persons.
The prosecution further alleged that recently the investigating agencies have also come across new evidences which include bank transactions. During the hearing, prosecution alleged that P Chidambaram is not cooperating with the investigation and is misleading the investigator.
Court will hear the matter on 12 December.
In a supplementary charges, the ED, which investigates economic crimes, named Chidambaram as accused number 1. It also named eight others, including S Bhaskaraman and four Maxis companies.
The ED said it had enough evidence, including e-mails retrieved from digital devices seized from Karti and his associates.
Congress has time and again alleged that it is "political vendetta" by the ruling government.
The senior Congress leader's role came under the scanner of investigating agencies in the Rs3,500 crore Aircel-Maxis deal and the INX Media case, involving Rs 305 crore.
It was during Chidambaram's tenure as finance minister in the UPA-1 government that clearance from the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) was granted to the two ventures, in which alleged irregularities have been found.
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