Scam-ridden former Union Minister P. Chidambaram, today moved an anticipatory bail plea at Patiala House Court in the Aircel-Maxis case, where he is accused of violating foreign investment protocol. Following that, Delhi’s Patiala House Court has sought a reply from Enforcement Directorate (ED) on the anticipatory bail plea.
Court has also given time to the ED to reply till 5th June and no coercive action can be taken against Chidambaram till then.
Aircel Maxis case: P Chidambaram has to appear before the ED on 5th June. Patiala House Court said no coercive action can be taken against him till then.
— ANI (@ANI) May 30, 2018
The ED in this matter has been probing the role of the then Finance Minister P Chidambaram, in granting the FIPB approval, which allegedly involved a total amount of about Rs. 3,500 crores, even though Chidambaram only had powers to approve project proposals worth Rs 600 crores. For any amount exceeding Rs 600 crores, Chidambaram was required to take an approval of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA).
Chidambaram’s son Karti too has been under scrutiny over allegations that his firm received about Rs 1.16 crores from Aircel and other companies in form of a ‘consultancy fee’.
Earlier in February, during one of the raids at his house, a classified CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) status report ‘draft’ on the 2G scam has been reportedly found by the ED. He had also moved Supreme Court and sought protection to his right to privacy and right to live in dignity.
