Aircel-Maxis Case: Notice Issued To P Chidambaram, Karti On ED’s Plea Challenging Anticipatory Bail

Mumbai: In another blow for congress senior leader P Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram Delhi High Court on Friday issued a notice on a petition filed by Enforcement Directorate (ED) seeking cancellation of their anticipatory bail in Aircel-Maxis case.

Justice Suresh Kumar Kait asked the father-son duo to file their reply by November 29 and posted a hearing on the case on the same day.

Chidambaram is also an accused in the INX Media case. He is in judicial custody in Tihar Jail till 21 October.
In the petition, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) termed the anticipatory bail granted to the accused as ‘unreasonable’ and said the trial court’s finding was completely “distorted and untenable”.

The investigating agency said that both of them remained vacant during the investigation. “There is a possibility that the accused may tamper with the evidence and influence the witnesses,” it said.

The case relates to alleged irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approval in the Aircel-Maxis deal. Chidambaram was reportedly approved in 2006 when he was the Union Finance Minister.

A special court granted anticipatory bail to both in the case on 5 September, stating that the entire evidence relating to the commission of the crime was “documentary in nature and not liable to be molested by both the accused”.

The court said that since both the accused are MLAs, “there is no clear possibility of the accused fleeing from justice.”

“Also, there is no possibility of the accused again committing similar offences as they are not currently holding any official position in the government. The witnesses are also from DoT, Ministry of Finance and Banks and as such, there is no possibility. “They are being threatened or influenced by any of the accused,” the court said

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