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NEW DELHI: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has filed a prosecution authorisation bid against erstwhile Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram successful transportation with the alleged wealth laundering offence successful the Aircel-Maxis deal, placing the bid earlier the Special Court nether the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) astatine Rouse Avenue, New Delhi.In a station connected societal media level X connected Thursday evening, the ED said, “ED has placed prosecution authorisation bid received from the Competent Authority against Shri. P Chidambaram, the past Union Finance Minister successful respect of the offence of wealth laundering successful the Aircel Maxis Deal, earlier the Ld. Special Court.”The bureau besides issued a elaborate property merchandise stating that the authorisation was obtained from the competent authorization to prosecute Chidambaram arsenic a nationalist servant and has present been submitted earlier the Special Court to expedite the pending trial.
Sanction obtained pursuing Supreme Court ruling
The determination comes successful the backdrop of a November 6, 2024 judgement of the Supreme Court successful “Directorate of Enforcement vs Bibhu Prasad Acharya & Ors.” (Criminal Appeal Nos. 4314-4316 of 2024), which held that prosecution authorisation nether Section 197(1) of the CrPC is applicable to complaints filed nether Section 44(1)(b) of the PMLA arsenic well.According to the ED, aft the apex court’s ruling, respective accused persons charged nether the PMLA challenged proceedings proceedings successful assorted ineligible forums, causing delays.
To comply with the judgement and debar further delay, the bureau said it initiated remedial enactment by seeking prosecution sanctions successful each pending complaints involving nationalist servants.In Chidambaram’s case, the authorisation was sought from the competent authorization and obtained connected February 10, 2026, on with an bid nether Section 197 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (corresponding to Section 218 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023), for prosecuting him successful respect of the alleged offence of wealth laundering.The prosecution authorisation bid has present been placed earlier the Special Court (PMLA), Rouse Avenue, to expedite the trial, the ED said.
Background of the Aircel-Maxis case
The ED initiated an probe nether the PMLA successful ECIR/05/DZ/2012, based connected an FIR registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) successful 2011 successful the Aircel-Maxis case. The CBI FIR alleged offences nether Sections 120-B and 420 of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 8, 13(2) and 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.According to the ED, its probe revealed that Chidambaram, arsenic the past Finance Minister, granted Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) support to the Aircel-Maxis woody successful 2006 “in lieu of quid pro quo.”In the deal, the overseas capitalist Maxis had sought authorities support for overseas nonstop concern (FDI) of $800 cardinal (Rs 3,565.91 crore). The ED alleged that the competent authorization for approving specified an concern was the Cabinet Committee connected Economic Affairs (CCEA), arsenic the magnitude exceeded Rs 600 crore. However, it claimed that support was “fraudulently and dishonestly granted” connected March 20, 2006 by Chidambaram, who was competent to o.k. FDI proposals involving investments of Rs 600 crore oregon less.
Alleged proceeds of transgression and attachment
The ED further alleged that amerciable gratification amounting to Rs 1.16 crore was received by Karti P Chidambaram successful his companies, M/s Advantage Strategic Consulting Pvt. Ltd. (ASCPL) and M/s Chess Management Services Pvt.
Ltd. (CMSPL).The bureau said its probe revealed fiscal transactions betwixt P Chidambaram and Karti P Chidambaram and that funds of ASCPL were spent “for and connected behalf of P Chidambaram.”Proceeds of transgression amounting to Rs 1.16 crore were provisionally attached done a Provisional Attachment Order dated September 23, 2017. The attachment was confirmed by the Adjudicating Authority connected March 12, 2018.Subsequently, a prosecution ailment nether Sections 44 and 45 work with Sections 3 and 4 of the PMLA was filed connected June 13, 2018, followed by a supplementary prosecution ailment connected October 25, 2018, earlier the Special Court (PMLA), Rouse Avenue, wherever Chidambaram was arraigned arsenic accused fig A-6.The Special Court, by its bid dated November 27, 2021, took cognisance of the offence of wealth laundering.The ED has besides obtained prosecution authorisation against Chidambaram successful different wealth laundering lawsuit related to INX Media.With the latest authorisation successful the Aircel-Maxis substance present placed earlier the Special Court, the ED said it has been making “all efforts to accelerated way the trial” successful the case.
