New Delhi: Congress leader P Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram were granted protection from arrest by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate in the Aircel-Maxis corruption case, by a Delhi court on Thursday.
The Rs. 3,500-crore Aircel-Maxis deal involves a clearance of $800 million foreign investment in 2006, allegedly in exchange of kickbacks. While the approval was expected to come from a committee headed by the Prime Minister, it came illegally from the finance ministry, the CBI said.
Earlier this week, the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate argued that Chidambaram and his son will hamper the Aircel-Maxis probe if granted protection from arrest. Accusing them of not cooperating with the investigation, the agency said that they needed to be dealt with an “iron hand”.
During Thursday’s hearing, the court granted relief to the Chidambarams and directed them to join the probe in the cases. “In event of arrest, they be released on a personal bond of Rs. 1 lakh and one surety of like amount. The accused are directed to join the investigation,” the court said.
