New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday (November 20) stayed proceedings before the trial court against former Union minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram in the Aircel-Maxis case registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri stayed the proceedings till the next date of hearing while hearing a plea filed by the senior Congress leader challenging the order of the trial court taking cognisance of the chargesheet filed by the ED against him and his son Karti Chidambarm in the money laundering case and seeking an interim relief of a stay on the proceedings before the trial court.
High Court also issued notice to ED
The High Court also issued notice to the ED and sought the agency’s response to Chidambaram’s plea and ordered for the listing of the matter on January 22.
The counsels appearing for Chidambarm submitted to the court that when the offence was allegedly committed, Chidambaram was public servant and the special judge took cognisance of the ED chargesheet for the alleged offence of money laundering in the absence of any sanction for prosecution of Chidambarm.
The ED, while raising a preliminary objection on the maintainability of Chidambarm’s petition, submitted that the sanction for prosecution of Chidambaram was not required in the case as the allegations pertain to his actions that have nothing to do with his official duties.
“Notice issued. Till the next date of hearing, the proceedings against the petitioner shall remain stayed. List on January 22,” Justice Ohri said and added that he will pass a detailed order later, news agency PTI reported.
Trial court took cognisance of chargesheets filed by CBI, ED in 2021
The trial court took cognisance of the chargesheets filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the ED against Chidambaram and his son Karti in the Aircel-Maxis case on November 27, 2021 and summoned them on a later date.
What are the allegations?
The central agencies have alleged that during Chidambaram’s tenure as the Union finance minister in 2006, irregularities were committed in the grant of Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approval in the Aircel-Maxis deal and Chidambaram had he had granted the approval to the Aircel-Maxis deal, which benefitted certain persons, beyond his capacity in lieu of kickbacks.
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