ED wants custodial interrogation of PC

New Delhi, October 31

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The Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday opposed in a Delhi court the anticipatory bail plea of former Union minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram in the Aircel-Maxis money laundering case and sought his custodial interrogation.

The ED, which filed its response to the anticipatory bail plea of Chidambaram, said he has remained evasive and was not cooperating in the probe and therefore grant of anticipatory bail at this stage would be highly detrimental to the investigation.

It said Chidambaram, being a senior advocate practising in the Supreme Court, a Rajya Sabha MP and former Union minister, “is a highly influential and well-connected individual. Therefore, there is a serious apprehension of the applicant influencing witnesses or tampering with evidence pertaining to the present case”.

The agency said the investigation pertaining to FIPB approval fraudulently granted by Chidambaram has got several dimensions, for which investigation has been concluded to some extent and with regard to certain issues was still going on.

The hearing on Chidambaram’s plea will take place before Special Judge OP Saini on Thursday.

The court had on October 8 extended till November 1 the interim protection from arrest granted to Chidambaram and his son Karti in the Aircel-Maxis case filed by the CBI and the ED. — PTI