The Delhi High Court on Wednesday granted a stay on proceedings against Congress leader and former Union Minister P. Chidambaram in the Aircel-Maxis money laundering case. Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri directed that the trial court proceedings remain halted until the next hearing and assured that a detailed order would follow. The court also notified the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to respond.
Chidambaram moved the High Court, challenging the trial court’s order that had taken cognizance of the ED’s complaint against him and his son, Karti Chidambaram. Senior Advocate N. Hariharan, representing the former minister, contended that the cognizance was invalid as it was taken without obtaining mandatory prosecution sanction. Advocate Arshdeep Singh assisted him, while Advocate Zoheb Hossain represented the ED.
The case revolves around alleged irregularities in granting Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approvals for the ₹3,500 crore Aircel-Maxis deal during Chidambaram’s tenure as Union Finance Minister. The prosecution claims that Chidambaram and his son received kickbacks in exchange for facilitating the clearance.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the ED, which are investigating the case, had filed their chargesheets and complaints in July 2018. Both agencies have accused Chidambaram and his son of misuse of official position and financial misconduct.
The allegations stem from the FIPB’s clearance of the Aircel-Maxis deal, which allegedly involved bypassing standard procedures. This approval, granted despite jurisdictional and financial constraints, has been at the centre of investigations by both agencies. The prosecution asserts that the clearance was orchestrated to benefit the involved parties, with economic gains purportedly routed through shell companies linked to Karti Chidambaram.
This stay by the Delhi High Court temporarily halts further proceedings in the trial court, allowing the High Court to review the issues of prosecution sanction and the validity of the charges brought against Chidambaram. The case has been a high-profile matter, drawing significant public and political attention due to its implications for alleged corruption at the highest levels of governance.
