Aircel-Maxis Case: P Chidambaram Gets Relief From ED Arrest Until July 10

Senior Congress leader and former Union minister P Chidambaram, on June 5, 2018 got protection by a Delhi court from arrest by the Enforcement Directorate until July 10 in connection with the Aircel-Maxis case.

Special Judge OP Saini passed the order after the Enforcement Directorate sought more time to file a detailed reply to Chidambaram’s plea seeking anticipatory bail in the case.

Senior advocate Sonia Mathur and advocate Nitesh Rana moved the plea on behalf of the ED, saying the agency needed four weeks time to file a detailed reply.

At this, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi and advocate PK Dubey, appearing for Chidambaram, requested the court to fix the matter to July 10 when the court is already scheduled to hear the anticipatory bail plea of Chidambaram’s son Karti in the same case.

The senior Congress leader had on May 30 moved his plea for anticipatory bail in the Aircel-Maxis money laundering case.

In his plea, Chidambaram said all the evidence in the matter appears to be documentary in nature which is already in the possession of the incumbent government and nothing was to be recovered from him.

The court has granted interim protection from arrest till July 10 to the former minister’s son Karti in two cases filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the ED in 2011 and 2012, respectively, in the Aircel-Maxis matter arising out of the 2G spectrum cases.

The relief was granted to Karti after the ED sought time to argue on his application seeking anticipatory bail.

Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram has been asked by the Central Bureau of Investigation to appear on June 6 for questioning in connection with alleged irregularities in the clearance of foreign investment in INX Media, a venture promoted by former media baron Peter Mukerjea and his wife Indrani.