Enforcement Directorate files charge sheet against P Chidambaram in Aircel Maxis case

New Delhi, Oct 25 The Enforcement Directorate Thursday recorded charge sheet against previous Union minister P Chidambaram in the Aircel-Maxis illegal tax avoidance case, accusing him for plotting with foreign investors to give them leeway for their venture.

Special Judge OP Saini fixed November 26 for consideration of the charge sheet.

ED had filed the first charge sheet in the situation against Chidambaram's son Karti; later, a supplementary charge sheet was also filed against him.

The nine charged named by the agency for the case are: Chidambaram, S. Bhaskaraman (sanctioned bookkeeper of Karti), V Srinivasan (previous CEO of Aircel), Augustus Ralph Marshall (related with Maxis), Astro All Asia Networks Plc Malaysia, Aircel Televentures Ltd, Maxis Mobile Services Sdn Bhd, Bumi Armada Berhad, Bumi Armada Navigation Sdn Bhd.

They are accused for money laundering of Rs 1.16 crore in lieu of illegal FIFB approval by the former minister in March 2006, given to the outside financial specialist Global Communication and Services Holdings Limited, Mauritius infringing upon the different standards and controls administering the FDI approach in India.

"According to standards and FDI arrangement of Government of India in 2006, Chidambaram, the then Finance Minister was engaged to give endorsement of the outside venture to the recommendations including remote speculation up to Rs 600 crore as it were. The outside speculation proposition of Global Communication and Services Holdings Limited ought to have been alluded to Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) yet it was not done and endorsed by Chidambaram under a trick," said the ED, recording the second supplementary charge sheet.

It said the charge sheet depends on satisfactory material confirmations which are as email interchanges recovered from the seized advanced gadgets from Karti and his partners.

The material evidences reveal routing of proceeds of crime in the guise of bonafide business deals by the beneficiaries of illegal FIPB approval in the companies of Karti. The investigation has revealed the financial linkage of Karti Chidambaram and P Chidambaram with these companies, it said.

"Their are contradictory and evasive responses, in spite of that ED has gathered materials that is corroboratory proclamations recorded under Section 50 of the PMLA from different people amid the examination to substantiate the offence of of money laundering," ED said.

The first charge sheet in the case was filed against Karti on June 13 which guaranteed that he controlled two firms which purportedly got Rs 1.16 crore as pay off cash in the Aircel-Maxis money laundering case.

Supporters N K Matta and Nitesh Rana showed up for the ED in the court.