ED files charge sheet against P Chidambaram in Aircel Maxis case

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate Thursday tightened its noose around former Union minister P Chidambaram by filing charge sheet against him in a Delhi court in the Aircel-Maxis money laundering case, accusing him of conspiring with foreign investors to clear their venture.

The agency also named S Bhaskaraman (chartered accountant of Chidambaram's son Karti).

Chidambaram and his son have both denied the allegations levelled against them by the CBI and the ED.

The others named in the charge sheet filed before Special Judge OP Saini are: V Srinivasan (former CEO of Aircel), Augustus Ralph Marshall (associated with Maxis), Astro All Asia Networks Plc Malaysia, Aircel Televentures Ltd, Maxis Mobile Services Sdn Bhd, Bumi Armada Berhad, Bumi Armada Navigation Sdn Bhd in the charge sheet filed before Special Judge OP Saini.

The court has fixed November 26 for consideration of the charge sheet.

It has charged the accused under sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. If found guilty, they would be liable to a jail term of up to seven years along with fine.