HC: 'No coercive action' against Chidambaram

Former Union minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday moved a Delhi court, seeking protection from arrest in the Aircel-Maxis money laundering case. The court, which issued notice to the ED seeking its reply by June 5, directed the agency not to take any coercive action against Chidambaram.

Congress leader P Chidambaram today rushed to a trial court and the Delhi High Court seeking protection from arrest in corruption cases relating to the Aircel Maxis deal and the INX Media, in which he has been asked by probe agencies to join investigations. In both Aircel-Maxis deal of ~35 billion and INX Media case involving ~3.05 billion, Chidambaram's role has come under the scanner of the investigating agencies as during his tenure as Finance Minister in the UPA-1 regime, FIPB clearance was granted to the two ventures in which alleged irregularities have been found.

A case of alleged money laundering was being probed in the Aircel-Maxis deal in which Enforcement Directorate had summoned Chidambaram for questioning today and the CBI has slapped a notice on him to join the probe in the INX Media case tomorrow. The day began with Chidamabaram approaching the court of Special Judge O P Saini, which directed the ED not to take any coercive action or arrest him till June 5 in connection with the Aircel-Maxis deal in which he was asked to appear for questioning.

In the order, the court noted that Chidambaram has undertaken to comply with the summons issued by the ED while saying he apprehended his arrest by the agency.

Hours after getting the relief from the trial court, senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi, drove to the Delhi High Court with a petition on behalf of Chidambaram, seeking anticipatory bail in the INX Media case.

The development before the high court witnessed some drama as Justice S P Garg recused to hear the matter and the file was placed before acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal, who allocated the case for hearing before Justice A K Pathak. Justice Pathak, in the forenoon session, said he was willing to hear the matter after 3:00pm but Sibal expressed his difficulty and both the sides consented to get the matter to be heard on Thursday.