ED files supplementary charge sheet against P Chidambaram in money laundering case

Enforcement Directorate (ED) yesterday filed supplementary prosecution charge sheet against senior former Finance Minister P Chidambaram and eight others in the 3,500-crore rupees Aircel-Maxis case. 

The charge sheet also named Chidambaram's son Karti Chidambaram and his chartered accountant Bhaskarraman. The senior Congress leader has been accused of money laundering. 

The case will be considered by the Delhi court on 26th November. 

The CBI and the Enforcement Directorate have been investigating case, which involves the foreign investment clearance granted in 2006 for the Aircel-Maxis deal.

According to the CBI, the Mauritius-based Global Communication Services Holdings --



a subsidiary of Maxis -- sought approval for an investment of 800 million dollars in Aircel. The approval was expected to come from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs or CCEA, headed by the Prime Minister. But instead, it came from the finance ministry, which only has the power to approve investments of smaller sums, upto Rs. 600 crore. At the time, Mr Chidambaram was Finance Minister in the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre.

The agency alleged that after the approval was received, Aircel Televentures Limited paid  26 lakh rupees to a company linked to Karti Chidambaram.

Mr Chidambaram and his son have been given immunity from arrest till 1st November by a Delhi court.