Chidambaram formally charged
On the eve of the no-trust vote, the CBI has accused former finance minister P Chidambaram formally of corruption in a supplementary chargesheet filed in in the Aircel Maxis money laundering case.
The CBI has alleged that as finance minister in the government of Dr Manmohan Singh, Chidambaram misused his office to clear foreign investment deals in exchange for which his son, Karti Chidambaram, was given kickbacks.
This is the first time that the senior Congress leader has been directly accused of wrongdoing in the case. Chidambaram and his son will now stand trial in the case, once the chargesheet is cleared by the judge.
Calling the allegations "preposterous", Chidambaram, 72, said the CBI had been "pressured" to file the chargesheet. He described the charges against his son and him as ‘punishment’ for his persistent criticism of PM Modi and his policies. He has said all investment approvals granted during his tenure were above board.
"The CBI has been pressured to file a charge sheet to support a preposterous allegation against me and officers with a sterling reputation. The case is now before the Hon'ble Court and it will be contested vigorously. I shall make no more public comment (sic)," he said in a tweet.
The charge sheet names a total of 18 people, including the Chidambarams and former and current government officials.
According to the CBI, Mauritius-based Global Communication Services Holdings - a subsidiary of Maxis - sought approval for an investment of US dollars 800 million in telecom firm Aircel. The approval should have come from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, which is headed by the Prime Minister. But it came from the finance ministry, which was then headed by Chidambaram. The finance ministry is only empowered to approve investments of sums up to Rs 600 crore.
Thursday’s chargesheet will be reviewed by a judge on July 31.
Chidambaram is already protected from arrest by the court till August 7, as the court extended his anticipatory bail for the third time a few days ago.