Aircel Maxis case: P Chidambaram, son karti charged by CBI

Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday filed fresh charge-sheet against former finance minister and Congress leader P chidambaram and his son Karti in Aircel Maxis case pertaining to Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approval.

The charge-sheet filed in the Patiala House Court included 18 accused including P Chidambaram and his son.

The charge-sheet mentioned six companies including Chest Management Services, Advantage Strategic, Astro All Asia Networks and others.

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The case pertains to Aircel seeking permission to bring inforeign direct investment (FDI) of Rs 3,500 crore in 2006 and the then finance ministry P Chidambaram allegedly suppressing the figure to make the case that the telecom company was seeking clearance for getting only Rs 180 crore in FDIto avoid the matter being referred to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA).

As per rules applicable at that time, foreign investment of up to Rs 600 crore could be cleared by the finance minister through FIPB.

CBI says in its new charge-sheet that two sets of money trails were discovered regarding Foreign Investment Promotion Board clearance. Patiala House Court to take cognizance of the charge-sheet on July 31. Some government officials -- both serving & retired -- have been named in charge-sheet, reports said.

Karti was arrested by CBI at the Chennai airport after he returned from the United Kingdom on February 28 for his alleged role in the case. Karti is currently out on bail.

In August 2014, the CBI chargesheetedformer telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran, Maxis' owner Ananda Krishnan besides Maran's brother and media baron Kalanithi Maran among others in the case.