ED seeks Chidambaram's interrogation, opposes anticipatory bail plea

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday filed a reply in a Delhi court opposing an anticipatory bail plea filed by former finance minister P. Chidambaram in the Aircel Maxis case.

The probe agency said that it has reached a "bonafide conclusion" that custodial interrogation of Chidambaram is required and granting him the anticipatory bail would "vitiate the investigation".

The ED also mentioned that Chidambaram has remained evasive and is not cooperating with the agency in the investigation. The hearing in the matter will now take place on November 1.

Last week, the ED filed a supplementary charge sheet under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) in the court in connection with the same case in which nine persons, including Chidambaram, were listed as accused.

The Aircel Maxis case, which emerged out of the 2G spectrum cases, pertains to a grant of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approval to firm M/S Global Communication and Services Holdings Limited, Mauritius for investment in Aircel. The FIPB approval was allegedly granted in the year 2006 when Chidambaram was the finance minister.

As per the rules and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy of the government, Chidambaram was only empowered to give approval proposals involving foreign investment up to Rs. 600 crore only. However, he approved the foreign investment proposal of Global Communication and Services Holdings Ltd, worth Rs 3560 crore approximately.