Aircel Maxis case: ED files chargesheet naming P Chidambaram as accused number one; total 9 accused named

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday filed a chargesheet in the Aircel Maxis case, wherein Former Union Minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram has been named as accused number 1. Chidambaram's CA S Bhaskaraman has also been named as an accused in the chargesheet, along with 8 others. Aircel Televentures and four companies of Maxis have also been named. 

P Chidambaram has been charged with money laundering by the Enforcement Directorate under Section 3 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

In the chargesheet, the ED has alleged 800 million US dollars illegal FIPB approval and accused P Chidambaram of laundering Rs. 1.6 crore.

"ED files supplementary prosecution complaint in Aircel Maxis case against P. Chidambaram, S. Bhaskararaman, M/s Aircel Televentures Ltd., Augustus Ralph Marshall resident of Malaysia & others under PMLA for illegal FIBP approval by P.Chidambaram in March, 2006," said the Enforcement Directorate in a statement.

READ | ED To File Chargesheet Against P Chidambaram In Aircel Maxis Case On Thursday: Sources

Earlier on Wednesday, sources told Republic TV that the ED will be filing chargesheet against Chidamabaram on Thursday as the ED Director, Karnal Singh, ordered action on the case before his retirement on Friday.

Earlier on October 8, a Delhi Court, extended the interim protection from arrest granted to former Union Minister P Chidambaram and his son Karti till November 1, in the Aircel-Maxis case filed by the CBI and the ED. Special CBI judge OP Saini put up the matter for November 1 after the counsel appearing for agencies sought an adjournment in the matter.

READ | Court Extends Interim Protection From Arrest Granted To P Chidambaram, Son In Aircel-Maxis Case

Chidambaram and his son were named in the chargesheet filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation in the case on July 19.

The CBI is probing how Chidambaram, who was the Union finance minister in 2006, granted a Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approval to a foreign firm, when only the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) was empowered to do it.

READ | Aircel-Maxis Case: ED Seeks To Cancel Karti Chidambaram's Interim Protection From Arrest. Full Details Here