New Delhi: In a sign that former finance minister P Chidambaram’s legal troubles are mounting, the Enforcement Directorate has announced that it will investigate his and his son Karti Chidambaram’s alleged role in the controversial Aircel-Maxis deal.
BJP leader Subramanian Swamy said in a tweet that “CBI files letter stating FIPB pC decision is being investigated. ED files status report on Karti.”
Success in Aircel Maxis in SC, CBI files letter stating FIPB pC decision is being investigated. ED files status report on Karti. Next 2/5— Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) April 3, 2017
Swamy has alleged that Chidambaram withheld investment clearance for Aircel-Maxis deal in 2006 until his son Karthi Chidambaram received a 5% stake in Aircel.
The Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) is a body under the Finance Ministry that clears investment proposals.
Sivasankaran also alleged that the Maran brothers — Dayanidhi and Kalanidhi — received kickbacks in the form of investments by the Maxis group through the Astro network in their flagship media house, the Sun TV Network.
Although the CBI found no evidence of coercion in the Aircel sale, they found substantial evidence of Maran having favoured the company's takeover by Maxis, and delaying Sivasankar's files.
In 2012, the Enforcement Directorate launched a case of money laundering against the Maran brothers for allegedly receiving kickbacks of about Rs 550 crore.
In 2014, a special CBI judge said that he had found enough evidence to proceed with the prosecution. Based on the CBI charge sheet, the ED attached the Maran brothers' properties.
Meanwhile, Subramanian Swamy alleged that in 2006 a company controlled by Karthi Chidambaram received a 5% share of Aircel to get part of Rs 4,000 crore paid by Maxis for a 74 percent stake in Aircel. According to Swamy, Chidambaram withheld FIPB clearance till the 5% was paid to Karthi.
Comments
0 comment