Karti controlled firm that got Rs 26L funds in Aircel-Maxis deal: ED

Karti Chidambaram, the son of former Union finance minister P Chidambaram, controlled "each and every aspect" of Advantage Strategic Consulting Private Limited (ASCPL) which received Rs 26 lakh as alleged bribe in the Aircel-Maxis money laundering case, the Enforcement Directorate has claimed in its charge sheet against him and others filed before a Delhi court today.

Today's charge sheet, which is part of the 2G spectrum allocation case, has been filed against Karti Chidambaram, Advantage Strategic Consultancies Private Limited, Chess Management Services Pvt. Ltd. (CMSPL) and a few others under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

"ASCPL was set up at the directions of Karti Chidambaram and was controlled by him," the ED said in the charge sheet.

It said Karti Chidambaram also "arranged the funds for setting up" the company.

"The affairs of ASCPL were managed by Karti and internal e-mails show the control of Karti over each and every aspect of the business of ASCPL," it said.

It claimed that ASCPL "received" about Rs 26 lakh from Aircel Televenture Ltd, the Indian company, which sold shares to Maxis.

"This payment was received immediately after FDI approval," the ED said in the charge sheet indicating alleged quid pro quo or bribe.

Talking about the deal in question, the charge sheet said Maxis had "invested USD 800 million (Rs 3,565.91 crore) as Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)."