Aircel-Maxis deal: No holy cows to protect, says Jaitley

With new charges against former minister P Chidambaram’s son Karti surfacing in the Aircel-Maxis deal, the government on Wednesday asserted in the Lok Sabha that there are “no holy cows” to protect and action will be taken against those found guilty, “howsoever important” one may be.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and investigative wing of the Income Tax Department, during recent searches in connection with the Aircel-Maxis deal, have recovered several “incriminating” documents, which are being scrutinised and charge-sheets will be filed.

Replying to a short duration discussion on the Aircel-Maxis deal in the wake of vociferous demand for action by AIADMK, which has been disrupting the House since Tuesday, Jaitley said the matter is being probed by three investigating agencies and it would be taken to a logical conclusion.

“No one will be spared. We have no holy cows to protect. The government is going to the root of each one of these cases,” said Jaitley, who also holds Corporate Affairs portfolio.

Refuting allegations that the government was going slow in the 2G and Aircel-Maxis cases as “absolutely incorrect”, he said in all these cases, “where the CBI has come to a prima facie opinion that an offence has been committed, charge-sheets have been filed and the trials are going on”.

Jaitley said, “Whatever was the stand of the earlier government, we have not been influenced by that stand at all. The investigative agencies have absolute freedom to professionally record the entire evidence and if they come to an opinion that some people prima facie guilty, the investigating agencies are free to take actions.”

For the second consecutive day, Parliament proceedings have been disrupted by AIADMK members who were demanding action against Karti, following reports that he has invested huge amounts in various countries based on searches conducted at his premises and other related companies.