Aircel-Maxis probe at critical stage, no holy cows to protect: Jaitley

Amid demands by some non-Congress opposition parties for detailed probe into the Aircel-Maxis issue and accusations of "disproportionate assets" against Karti Chidambaram, the government said on Wednesday it has "no holy cows to protect" and action will be taken against the guilty.

Replying to a debate in the Lok Sabha on the alleged money laundering case involving Aircel-Maxis deal, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the NDA government was not influenced by the stance of the erstwhile UPA government in the case, and that the investigative agencies were free to take action if someone is found prima facie guilty.

Jaitley said the probe into the alleged Aircel-Maxis scam was at a "critical stage".

The minister said while probing the 2G and Aircel-maxis cases, different agencies of the government obtained some other information also.

He said raids were conducted by the investigative department of income tax department and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) but for reasons of "law and propriety" he cannot part with more information.

"As a result of searches by Enforcement Directorate and investigating wing of Income Tax department, a lot of incriminating material has been seized," he said.

Jaitley said the documents are being analysed and details of assets in India and abroad are obtained.

He said letters rogatory have been sent by the ED to several countries and the required procedures are being followed.

The minister said once investigation is completed, necessary action would be taken under law.

"The investigations will be taken to their logical conclusion," he said, adding no one, however important he may be, will be spared if found guilty.

AIADMK members raised the issue against Karti in parliament, displaying copies of an English daily which claimed that, as per investigations by the ED and Income Tax authorities during searches at his premises, he has invested in real estate across the world.

Karti is son of former home minister P. Chidambaram.

The proceedings of both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha were impacted by the uproar by AIADMK members on Wednesday.

During the discussion on the Aircel-Maxis issue in the Lok Sabha, AIADMK and the Biju Janata Dal members accused the government and the main opposition party Congress of a "match fixing" and demanded a detailed probe into the matter.

The Congress, the Left and the Rahtriya Janata Dal (RJD) members staged a walkout on the issue.

Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi earlier said the government was ready to debate the issue.