Aircel-Maxis: What is the case against P Chidambaram about

On Monday the CBI informed the SC that it would submit a report relating to Chidambaram in three weeks.

On Monday, the Central Bureau of Investigation told the Supreme Court that it is probing all possible angles of allegations that the former finance minister P Chidambaram had illegally given clearance to the Malaysian firm Maxis to buy 100 per cent of Aircel.

BJP leader Subramanian Swamy had approached the court alleging that an illegality had been committed by Chidambaram in granting Foreign Investment Promotion Board clearance to the Rs 3,500 crore deal in 2006. Swamy had also sought a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the case known as the Aircel-Maxis deal.

Swamy had told the bench on Monday that he had received a letter from the CBI about the probe. He sought a directive to the CBI to file a status report on the probe.

The CBI said that it was probing the case from all angles and would inform about the progress in three weeks. The additional solicitor general also submitted to the court in a sealed envelope regarding the status of the probe conducted by the Enforcement Directorate against Chidambaram.

Swamy has alleged that the FIPB, of which Chidambaram was ex-officio chairman, had given illegal clearance to the deal to enable Mr Chidambaram and his son, Karti Chidambaram, to profit from it. It was also alleged that since the deal was worth over Rs 600 crore, it should have been placed before the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs by the finance minister for clearance. This was not done, Swamy also alleged.

OneIndia News