Centre allows CBI to prosecute PC

New Delhi, February 22

With the CBI receiving sanction from the Centre to prosecute ex-Finance Minister P Chidambaram, the agency is now preparing to soon file chargesheet in the INX media foreign investment clearance case. The investment proposal was cleared when Chidambaram was holding the finance portfolio.

Sources confirmed that the agency has received the Centre’s nod to press charges against the Congress leader. “Now we might soon proceed with filing the chargesheet in the case,” said an official.

The agency had registered a case on May 15, 2017, in the case for alleged irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance to INX Media for receiving overseas funds to the tune of Rs305 crore in 2007, when Chidambaram was the Finance Minister.

In the first week of February, the Ministry of Law and Justice had opined to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on its query that there was “no legal infirmity” in the agency’s request seeking prosecution sanction.

Sources said the view of the Law Ministry has now been communicated to the CBI by the MHA. Chidambaram was not listed as an accused in the FIR registered by the agency. The Prevention of Corruption Act mandates a probe agency to get sanction to prosecute an accused public servant. Both CBI and ED are probing investment clearance to Aircel-Maxis deal and INX Media. — TNS