Aircel-Maxis case: Swamy moves SC seeking probe into Chidambaram's role

BJP leader Subramanian Swamy on Friday moved the Supreme Court seeking early hearing on his plea alleging that illegality was committed by then Finance Minister P Chidambaram in granting FIPB clearance to the Aircel-Maxis deal in 2006.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud said it would consider the plea for early hearing.

The top court had earlier asked Swamy to bring "concrete material" to support his allegations.

Chidambaram has denied the allegations levelled by Swamy.

Swamy had earlier argued before the court that the then Finance Minister had given Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance to the deal which should have been referred to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), headed by the Prime Minister, as the CCEA alone was empowered to clear foreign investments over Rs 600 crore.

He had claimed that the money transaction involved in the process was around Rs 3,500 crore and FIPB clearance was given by the then Finance Minister, who should have sent it to CCEA.

He had referred to the CBI charge sheet in the Aircel- Maxis deal case and said the agency had claimed the Finance Minister was competent to give approval of projects up to Rs 600 crore.

A special court had discharged former Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran, his industralist brother Kalanithi Maran and others who were chargesheeted by the CBI and ED in connection with the Aircel-Maxis case and a money-laundering matter relating to the deal.