Aircel-Maxis case: Court extends Chidambarams' interim protection from arrest till Sep 3

A Delhi Court Friday extended the interim protection from arrest granted to former Union finance minister P Chidambaram and his son Karti in Aircel-Maxis cases till September 3 and pulled up the CBI and the ED for seeking adjournments on the hearing related to their anticipatory bail pleas.

The court said the probe agencies have been seeking adjournments in the cases for over a year and it has become "embarrassing" to continue with the matter in this manner.

It gave ultimatum to CBI and ED that onus is on them to make arguments against the anticipatory bail pleas of the Chidambarams and they have to make their stand clear as soon as possible as the order would be pronounced on September 3.

The Aircel-Maxis cases came up for hearing in the special court hours after P Chidamabaram was granted interim protection from arrest till August 26 in a money laundering case lodged by the ED in connection with the INX Media scam.

CBI and ED made reference of Friday's proceedings in the Supreme Court relating to the INX Media scam for seeking adjournment in the cases arising out of the Aircel-Maxis scam.

Special Judge O P Saini rejected the plea and said: "I do not find any merit in the application of agencies to adjourn the matter. Why are you asking adjournments day after day? You are making such arguments for an year.

"Thing have become very embarrassing for me. You have been seeking adjournment day after day. Put up for orders for September 3. They can argue before that whenever they may argue."
"Now the anticipatory bail matters of P Chidambaram in INX Media matter relating to ED and CBI are pending before the Supreme Court and will be listed on August 26. The order passed in INX Media matter may have a bearing on the present matter."
"Since the accused has already made his submissions on the bail application on August 1 and the prosecution is not willing to make its submissions and is seeking adjournment after adjournment, put up the matter for orders on September 3."