Airce-Maxis: Interim protection for Chidambaram, son from arrest extended

A Delhi court today extended till October 8 the interim protection from arrest granted to former Union minister P Chidambaram and his son Karti in Aircel-Maxis cases filed by the CBI and the ED for the alleged offences of corruption and money laundering respectively.

Special CBI Judge O P Saini allowed the applications moved by both the agencies seeking time to file a detailed reply to the anticipatory bail applications moved by senior advocate Kapil Sibal on behalf of father-son duo in both the cases.

Both ED and the CBI, represented by advocates Nitesh Rana and K K Goel respectively, told the court that the leading counsel was not available for the detailed argument and sought an adjournment, which was allowed by the court.

At this, Sibal requested the court to extend the interim protection granted to Chidambarams from arrest till the next date, which was allowed by the court.

Meanwhile, Karti informed the court through advocate Arshdeep Singh that he was desirous to travel abroad between August 15-31.

Karti has already been granted permission to go abroad from the Supreme Court, which, however, had put a condition that he inform the court about his travel details.

Chidambaram and his son were named in the charge sheet filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation in the case on July 19.

The ED is also probing a separate money-laundering case in the Aircel-Maxis matter and a charge sheet was filed against Karti Chidambaram by the agency on July 13 through advocate A R Aditya.

The CBI is probing how Chidambaram, who was the Union finance minister in 2006, granted a Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approval to a foreign firm, when only the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) was empowered to do it.

The senior Congress leader's role has come under the scanner of investigating agencies in the Rs 3,500-crore Aircel-Maxis deal and the INX Media case involving Rs 305 crore.

In its charge sheet filed earlier in the case against former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran, his brother Kalanithi Maran and others, the agency had alleged that Chidambaram had granted an FIPB approval in March, 2006 to Mauritius-based Global Communication Services Holdings Ltd, a subsidiary of Maxis.

The Maran brothers and the other accused named in the CBI charge sheet were discharged by the special court, which had said the agency had failed to produce any material against them to proceed with the trial.

Taking a cue from the CBI FIR, the ED is probing the money laundering in the matter.

P Chidambaram and Karti Chidambaram have been questioned by the ED on various occasions, even though the politician has not been arrayed as an accused.

Both Chidambaram and Karti have denied the allegations levelled against them by the CBI and the ED.