Aircel-Maxis deal: Delhi court grants P Chidambaram interim protection from arrest

New Delhi, May 30: Former Union minister P Chidambaram has knocked the doors of Delhi court seeking protection from arrest in the Aircel Maxis money laundering case, today. Chidambaram moved his plea for anticipatory bail before Special Judge O P Saini, who directed the senior Congress leader to appear before the Enforcement Directorate, ED, on the 5th of next month as already summoned by the agency.

The court has already granted interim protection from arrest till the 10th of July to Chidambaram's son Karti Chidambaram in two cases filed by the CBI and ED in the Aircel-Maxis matter arising out of 2G spectrum cases. The relief was granted to Karti after the ED sought time to argue on his application seeking anticipatory bail.

According to the CBI charge-sheet, Mauritius-based Global Communication Services Holdings, a subsidiary of Maxis, had sought approval for an investment of 800 million dollars in Aircel.

The CBI also alleges that Rs. 26 lakh was paid by Aircel Televentures Limited to a company allegedly linked to Karti Chidambaram days after the approval by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB).