The apex court’s observation came after BJP leader Subramanian Swamy briefed the court that despite charges being filed, there is no effort from CBI to examine Chidambaram’s role in giving the green signal to Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) in finalising the Aircel-Maxis deal.
After listening to both the parties, Chief Justice HL Dattu and Justice SA Bobde asked senior counsel KK Venugopal, who appeared on behalf of CBI, to apprise the court in this matter in the next hearing, which has been fixed for 16 October.
Swamy told the bench that the chargesheet by the CBI in a trial court had indicted alleged involvement of Chidambaram regarding the clearance granted to the Aircel-Maxis deal and therefore CBI should be asked to inform it about the progress in the ongoing probe.
‘Maxis Company owns 100 per cent stake in Aircel, which is illegal as per Indian law. The sale was cleared by FIPB and approved by Chidambaram by violating Indian law and therefore an investigation is required,’ Swamy said.
At this, the bench asked CBI’s counsel KK Venugopal to take note of Swamy’s contention and come back with a response on 16 October. The court also adjourned to 16 October the matter regarding the contentious visitors’ logbook at CBI director Ranjit Sinha’s Delhi residence to enable special prosecutor in the 2G case to complete his written submissions. Sinha’s visitor diary has revealed names of Coal and 2G scam accused.
On 29 August, the CBI had filed its chargesheets in this connection and named Chidambaram for his role in granting Global Communication Services, which had sought the FIPB for $800 million investment.
Further investigation revealed that even former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran did not raise objection to the proposal of foreign investment by the Global Communication Services Holding Ltd in Aircel Ltd in 2006.
Informed sources said, usually for such approval (FIPB) the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affarirs (CCEA) is the competent authority. ‘But in this case we have found that Chidambaram has given the green signal. We would like to know what prompted him to allow the firm in a hurry. His role as a former finance minister in allowing foreign investment by a Mauritius-based company in the Aircel-Maxis deal will be examined,’ CBI sources said.
After listening to both the parties, Chief Justice HL Dattu and Justice SA Bobde asked senior counsel KK Venugopal, who appeared on behalf of CBI, to apprise the court in this matter in the next hearing, which has been fixed for 16 October.
Swamy told the bench that the chargesheet by the CBI in a trial court had indicted alleged involvement of Chidambaram regarding the clearance granted to the Aircel-Maxis deal and therefore CBI should be asked to inform it about the progress in the ongoing probe.
‘Maxis Company owns 100 per cent stake in Aircel, which is illegal as per Indian law. The sale was cleared by FIPB and approved by Chidambaram by violating Indian law and therefore an investigation is required,’ Swamy said.
At this, the bench asked CBI’s counsel KK Venugopal to take note of Swamy’s contention and come back with a response on 16 October. The court also adjourned to 16 October the matter regarding the contentious visitors’ logbook at CBI director Ranjit Sinha’s Delhi residence to enable special prosecutor in the 2G case to complete his written submissions. Sinha’s visitor diary has revealed names of Coal and 2G scam accused.
On 29 August, the CBI had filed its chargesheets in this connection and named Chidambaram for his role in granting Global Communication Services, which had sought the FIPB for $800 million investment.
Further investigation revealed that even former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran did not raise objection to the proposal of foreign investment by the Global Communication Services Holding Ltd in Aircel Ltd in 2006.
Informed sources said, usually for such approval (FIPB) the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affarirs (CCEA) is the competent authority. ‘But in this case we have found that Chidambaram has given the green signal. We would like to know what prompted him to allow the firm in a hurry. His role as a former finance minister in allowing foreign investment by a Mauritius-based company in the Aircel-Maxis deal will be examined,’ CBI sources said.