City
Epaper

Aircel Maxis: Order on Chidambarams' bail pleas reserved

By IANS | Updated: August 23, 2019 16:40 IST

A court here on Friday reserved order, till September 3, on the anticipatory bail pleas filed by former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram in both CBI and ED matters relating to Aircel Maxis case.

Open in App

District and Sessions Judge O.P. Saini also extended the interim protection to the father-son duo till that date.

The court, however, granted liberty to the agency to argue on any date before the pronouncement of the order.

Additional Solicitor General (ASG) K.M. Natrajan said that as the INX media case - in which the elder Chidambaram has been arrested - has a binding effect on this case, hence the matter be adjourned as hearing in that case is pending before the Supreme Court.

Chidambaram's counsel, senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi, however, objected to the adjournment.

"If a person gets 10 dates, this is unfortunate," the counsel said.

In the previous hearing, Sibal submitted: "Karti Chidambaram was called for questioning 8 times in 2018 and 4 times in 2019 before the ED, while in the CBI case, he appeared for questioning in 2014 and September 18 and 26 in 2017. (He was) Not called for questioning thereafter. Charge sheet filed in July 2018 and he was named. Investigation is complete."

"P Chidambaram has only been called once by the CBI in 2014. Charge sheet has been filed and investigation is complete. While in the ED case, we filed for anticipatory bail. Two replies filed - one in July and the other in Oct. Interim protection from arrest been granted. He has been called four times by ED in 2018. He was named only in the second ED complaint."

"I am willing to enjoy their (ED and CBI's) hospitality. In ED, I have appeared 10 times and will appear again as and well called," Karti Chidambaram said through his counsel Sibbal.

Sibal also said that there are no allegations that his clients tampered with evidence. Both are parliamentar, all records are documented and there is not any allegation that they have approached anyone.

While Sibbal and Arshdeep represented the Chidambarams, senior advocate Sonia Mathur, Special Public Prosecutor Nitesh Rana and Noor Rampal appeared for the agencies.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the ED are investigating how Karti Chidambaram allegedly managed to get clearance from the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) in the Aircel-Maxis deal when his father was the Union Finance Minister in 2006.

The Aircel Maxis case emerged out of the 2G spectrum cases, pertaining to a grant of FIPB approval to firm M/S Global Communication and Services Holdings Limited, Mauritius for investment in Aircel.

The FIPB approval was allegedly granted in 2006. According to the rules and Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy of the government, Chidambaram was only empowered to give approval to proposals involving a foreign investment amount of up to Rs 600 crore.

( With inputs from IANS )

Tags: Karti ChidambaramcbiAircel Maxis
Open in App

Related Stories

MumbaiMumbai: Six More Arrested in ₹58-Crore Digital Arrest Scam; Total Tally Rises to 26

BusinessAnil Ambani’s Reliance Infra Extends Losses as CBI Probe Deepens; Reliance Power Sees Mild Recovery

MumbaiMumbai Cyber Fraud: 82-Year-Old Man Duped of Rs 1.08 Crore by Scammers Posing as Telecom, Police and CBI Officials

NationalKarur Stampede: Supreme Court Orders CBI Probe, Justice Ajay Rastogi to Head Investigation

Mumbai‘Digital Arrest’ Fraud: Cybercriminal from Sangli Booked for Extortion Using Dawood’s Sister’s Identity

National Realted Stories

NationalMahagathbandhan's loss in Begusarai where Rahul and Mukesh Sahani went fishing, locals explain why  

NationalTribal Pride Day: Delhi Assembly to honour over 200 visitors from Maoist-hit districts tomorrow

NationalKTR slams Centre, Telangana over cotton procurement crisis

National‘Five short of a century’: BJP on Rahul Gandhi’s string of 95 poll losses

NationalBihar: Nitish Kumar Likely to Resign Tomorrow, Suspense Over Next Chief Minister Continues