Aircel-Maxis case: CBI names Chidambaram, son Karti in supplementary charge sheet

New Delhi, July 18

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) named former finance minister P Chidambaram and his son Karti in its latest supplementary chargesheet in the Aircel Maxis case at Delhi's Patiala House Court on Thursday.

Special CBI judge OP Saini will consider the charges on July 31.

The CBI was conducting probe as to how Chidambaram, who was the finance minister in 2006, granted Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approval to a foreign firm when only Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) was empowered to do it.

The senior Congress leader's role had come under the scanner of investigating agencies in the Aircel-Maxis deal of Rs 3,500 crore and INX Media case involving Rs 305 crore.

In its charge sheet filed earlier in the case against former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran, his brother Kalanithi Maran and others, the agency had alleged that Chidambaram had granted FIPB approval in March 2006 to Mauritius-based Global Communication Services Holdings Ltd, a subsidiary of Maxis.

The Maran brothers and other accused, who were listed in the CBI charge sheet earlier, were discharged by the special court which had said that the agency had failed to produce any material against them to proceed with the trial.

The CBI had alleged in the charge sheet against the Marans that Global Communication Services Holdings Ltd had sought FIPB approval for USD 800 million for which only the CCEA was competent, but Chidambaram had given approval to the firm in March 2006.

It had claimed that the finance minister was competent to accord approval on project proposals of up to Rs 600 crore and proposals beyond this required the approval of the CCEA.

The Enforcement Directorate is also probing a separate money laundering case in the Aircel-Maxis deal in which Chidambaram and Karti have been questioned by the agency.

Both Chidambaram and Karti have denied the allegations levelled against them by the CBI and ED.

Chidambaram said on Thursday that he would contest the charges “vigorously”.  

“CBI has been pressured to file a charge sheet to support a preposterous allegation against me and officers with a sterling reputation. The case is now before the Hon'ble Court and it will be contested vigorously. I shall make no more public comment,” he said in a tweet.

CBI has been pressured to file a charge sheet to support a preposterous allegation against me and officers with a sterling reputation. The case is now before the Hon'ble Court and it will be contested vigorously. I shall make no more public comment.

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) July 19, 2018

BJP hints at more trouble

Meanwhile, the Congress—Chidambaram’s party—and the ruling BJP sparred in the Lok Sabha earlier in the day after a member of the latter hinted at a new criminal case against Chidambaram involving embattled liquor baron Vijay Mallya.

When BJP's Nishikant Dubey made the statement, Leader of the Congress Mallikarjun Kharge immediately asked how aware of an impending CBI action, claiming that it indicated that the agency was acting in a "pre-planned" manner.

"It shows it is all pre-planned. How do you know it? You are mentioning this. It means you get reports (from CBI)," he said intervening during Dubey's speech on the Fugitive Economic Offenders Bill.

The BJP member had said that the finance minister during the UPA government was involved in the process of banks extending loans to Mallya.

"I want to say... that the CBI is going to file a chargesheet and it will name the former finance minister," he said, drawing vociferous protests from Congress members.

Though he did not take any names, the BJP has been attacking P Chidambaram, who was the finance minister during the UPA government, for his alleged role in the matter.

In his speech, Dubey later named Chidambaram targetting him for his alleged role in other issues. Agencies