Aircel-Maxis case: SC to hear Karti's plea for quashing CBI, ED summons

The Supreme Court on Friday said it will hear in January a plea by Karti Chidambaram, son of former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, seeking the quashing of CBI and ED summons in the Aircel-Maxis case.

Alleging that Central government was "misusing" its agencies to harass him, Karti Chidambaram also sought the quashing of the order of provisional attachment.

A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud said the plea will be heard in January next year and the copy of the petition was served on Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta for response by the Central government.

Questioning the issuance of the summons by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate, Karti Chidambaram said nothing has been found about his alleged role in the grant of Foreign Investment Promotion Board approval to Global Communication Services Holdings Ltd, a subsidiary of Maxis, for investing in Aircel when his father was Finance Minister.

The case is also part of the 2G spectrum scam.

By its February 2 order, the Special court, trying 2G cases, had discharged the Maran brothers - Dayanidhi and Kalanithi - in the case, holding that that there was no prima facie case warranting the framing of charges, he has said.

Referring to the two reports of February 20, 2013 and September 9, 2014 submitted to the Supreme Court in sealed cover by the CBI, Karti Chidambram says the reports, on the CBI's investigation into alleged wrongdoing in FIPB approval in the Aircel-Maxis matter, after being perused by the top court, were directed to be kept back in the sealed cover.

He said that had there been any indication of illegality or irregularity in the matter, the top court would have ordered action, but nothing of the sort happened.

"It can be reasonably inferred that the reports did not disclose any illegality or irregularity in the grant of FIPB approval" by the Finance Ministry when P. Chidambaram was the Finance Minister in UPA government.

Meanwhile, special public prosecutor in 2G cases, senior counsel Anand Grover, sought clarification on his appearance in the matter, saying he has been asked to stay away as it was not a 2G case.

He told the bench that he was appointed Special Public Prosecutor for 2G cases by the top court and sought its clarification.

--IANS

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