Aircel Maxis Case: Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram

High Court pauses trial against P Chidambaram in Aircel-Maxis money laundering case

Aircel Maxis Case: Chidambaram moved the High Court against a trial court's order taking cognisance of the ED chargesheet against him and his son, Karti Chidambaram, in the Aircel-Maxis case.

by · India Today

In Short

  • Trial court had taken cognisance of the ED chargesheet against Chidambaram
  • Chidambaram cites no prosecution sanction against him
  • Case relates to FIPB approval for Rs 3,500 crore Aircel-Maxis deal in 2006

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday paused trial court proceedings against senior Congress leader P Chidambaram in the Aircel-Maxis money laundering case. A single-judge bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri also issued a notice to the Enforcement Directorate.

The order came after the former Union Minister moved the High Court against a trial court's order taking cognisance of the ED chargesheet against him and his son, Karti Chidambaram, in the Aircel-Maxis case.

Senior Advocate N Hariharan, appearing for Chidambaram, said that the trial court should not have taken cognisance without prosecution sanction as the Congress leader was a public servant during the alleged offence.

Recently, the Supreme Court also held that the ED was also required to seek sanction to prosecute public servants under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The ED had objected to the petition, saying that sanction for prosecution was not required as the allegations were related to Chidambaram's actions and had nothing to do with his official duties.

The case relates to alleged irregularities in the grant of Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approval in the Rs 3,500 crore Aircel-Maxis deal. The approval was granted in 2006 when Chidambaram was the Union Finance Minister in the UPA-I government. The ED has alleged that Chidamabaram and his son received kickbacks to ensure approval for the deal.

The CBI and the ED filed their chargesheets in the case in July 2018. In November 2021, the trial court took cognisance of the chargesheets filed by the CBI and the ED.

The trial court had said that there was "sufficient evidence" to summon Chidambaram and his son and other accused in the money laundering case.