P Chidambaram, Karti protected from arrest till Oct 8

A Delhi court on Tuesday extended the interim protection from arrest for former Union minister P Chidambaram and son Karti in the Aircel-Maxis case. Extension has been granted till October 8 in the case filed by the CBI and the ED for alleged offences of corruption and money laundering.

Special CBI Judge O P Saini allowed the applications moved by both the agencies seeking time to file a detailed reply to the anticipatory bail applications moved by senior advocate Kapil Sibal on behalf of father-son duo in both the cases.

Both ED and the CBI, represented by advocates Nitesh Rana and K K Goel respectively, told the court that the leading counsel was not available for the detailed argument and sought an adjournment, which was allowed by the court.

At this, Sibal requested the court to extend the interim protection granted to Chidambarams from arrest till the next date, which was allowed by the court.

Meanwhile, Karti informed the court through advocate Arshdeep Singh that he was desirous to travel abroad between August 15-31.

Karti has already been granted permission to go abroad from the Supreme Court, which, however, had put a condition that he inform the court about his travel details.

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

The ED is also probing a separate money-laundering case in the Aircel-Maxis matter and a charge sheet was filed against Karti Chidambaram by the agency on July 13 through advocate A R Aditya.