Centre grants sanction to prosecute Chidambaram in Aircel-Maxis case:CBI

In a setback to former union minister P Chidambaram, the CBI on Monday told a court that the Centre has granted sanction for prosecution of the senior Congress leader in the Aircel-Maxis case.

The court, which further extended the protection from arrest to Chidambaram and his son Karti till December 18, also granted three weeks to the probe agency to get sanction against some other people who are accused in the case.

Special Judge O P Saini posted the next date of hearing on December 18.

There are 18 accused in the case. Besides Chidambaram, sanction is required for the prosection of five public servants.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted on behalf of the Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) that "the competent authority in the central government has accorded sanction for prosecution of accused P Chidambaram under section 197 of CrPC and section 19 of Prevention of Corruption Act".

"Sanction for prosecution in respect of remaining accused public servants (five) are still awaited," he said, seeking two more weeks to get the nod.

The CBI said that the court's refusal to grant more time to obtain the sanction for other accused "in a matter pertaining to such a serious offences, may frustrate the cause of justice".

It further said: "In view of the facts and circumstances stated above, it is most humbly and respectfully prayed that the prosecution sanction received from the competent authority in the central government in respect of accused P Chidambaram may kindly be taken on record and a further time may be given to file sanction for prosecution in respect of remaining accused public servants."
On behalf of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a related money laundering case, Mehta orally told the court that the accused "misled the agency and made false statement. He suppressed information about the bank accounts in other countries and the money received from various sources."