New Delhi: The Delhi High Court sought Friday response of former Finance Minister P Chidambaram and his son Karti on the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) plea challenging the anticipatory bail granted to them in the Aircel-Maxis case.
Justice Suresh Kait issued notice to P Chidambaram and Karti on the agency’s petition seeking cancellation of their anticipatory bail.
The court listed the matter for further hearing November 29 along with CBI and ED’s pleas challenging the trial court’s order discharging former Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran and others in the same case.
Before Chidambaram and his son were made accused in the Aircel- Maxis case, a special court had February 2, 2017 discharged DMK leader Dayanidhi Maran, his brother Kalanithi Maran and others in the matter. Later, both the agencies, ED and CBI, filed supplementary charge sheets naming the Chidambarams in the scam.
The 74-year old Congress leader is currently lodged in Tihar Jail after being arrested by the CBI in the INX Media corruption case.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the ED, said the special judge pronounced its order granting anticipatory bail September 5 to the Chidambarams without considering the Supreme Court’s order which had come on the same day in the INX Media case.
There was no counsel present in the court to represent the Chidambarams in the case, Friday.
The cases relate to alleged irregularities in grant of Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approval in the Rs 3,500-crore Aircel-Maxis deal when Chidambaram was Union Finance Minister.
PTI