End 2G probe against PC in 6 months: SC

The Supreme Court on Monday told the CBI and the ED to end within six months their probes into the 2G cases, including the Aircel- Maxis telecom deal and the alleged involvement of former Union finance minister P. Chidambaram.

One of the pending CBI probes includes the alleged wrongdoing in the approval granted by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board, headed by Mr Chidambaram, for the 2011 deal in which Malaysian company Maxis picked up 74 per cent stake in Aircel telecom company.

The Supreme Court on Monday pulled up the CBI and Enforcement Directorate for the inordinate delay in completing the probe in the 2G case relating to Aircel Maxis on the alleged involvement of former finance minister P. Chidambaram and other issues and granted six months for completion of the investigation.

A bench of Justices Arun Mishra and Navin Sinha asked both the CBI and ED to give a status report in two weeks on the progress of investigation. The pending probes include that by the CBI into the role of Malaysian accused T. Anant Krishnan and Ralph Marshall in the Aircel- Maxis deal, and that by the CBI regarding Foreign Investment Promotion Board approval for AircelMaxis deal.

If the probe is taken to its logical conclusion then Mr Chidambaram may be in trouble for granting approval. The ED is also looking into the money laundering aspects of the AircelMaxis deal. This includes the probe into Karti Chidambaram’s role in connection with the Aircel- Maxis case.

Justice Mishra told attorney- general K. K. Venugopal “it is a very important case and the country must know the results, whatever may be the decision. Why this investigation taking too long and what are the reasons for delay. Is anybody behind the delay? You can’t keep this country in dark. This matter coming to us after four years and now you have to give all answers. You shall complete the investigation in six months and submit status report in 2 weeks. We want all answers to the questions raised by CAG in his report”.