P Chidambaram, today moved Delhi court to avoid arrest, and seek protection from arrest in relation with the Aircel Maxis money laundering case. Karti Chidambaram, his son, is an accused in the case. And, the court has now ordered the Enforcement Directorate to not take any sort of coercive action against him, until the next hearing in court, which is scheduled on June 4. But, P Chidambaram is going to attend the hearing. Previously, Congress leader Kapil Sibal had represented him on court. The Enforcement Directorate is probing the issue of foreign investment clearance that was given to the Aircel-Maxis deal, in 2006.
The charge sheet states that Mauritius-based Global Communication Services Holdings was seeking approval for an investment of 800 million dollars in Aircel. In such cases, only a cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister could clear approve the grant, but P Chidambarm did it himself.
Karti Chidambarm has also been accused in the INX media fraud case, and is out on bail. He was arrested earlier this year at Chennai airport while he was returning from England. He has been charged with receiving irregular FIPB clearance for investments that amount to Rs 305 crore. Electoral Directorate and the CBI, both are trying to find out how Karti was able to get the clearance from FIPB. He was arrested based on the testimonies of Indrani and Peter Mukerjea, who are serving time in jail for the murder of their daughter, Sheena Bora. Chidambaram has also moved court to avoid arrest in the INX media case as well.
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