Probing all aspects of Aircel deal: CBI to SC

 The CBI on Monday told the Supreme Court that it was probing all angles of the Aircel-Maxis case.

“It is underway,” Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted before a bench of Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justice D Y Chandrachud.

In his brief submission, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy said he has received a reply from the CBI, stating that it was probing all angles, including the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance given to the deal reportedly by the then finance minister P Chidambaram in 2006.

The bench gave the CBI three weeks to file a status report. It also took on record a status report filed by the Enforcement Directorate in a sealed cover.

The court posted the matter for consideration on May 2 after Mehta, appearing for the CBI, submitted that Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi was not available.

Swamy said the CBI should be asked to file a status report in the case, after which the bench asked Mehta to do so before the next date of hearing. Mehta sought two weeks to file the report.

Swamy claimed, outside the courtroom, that he has provided all the information to the agencies regarding the reported money transfer to Chidambaram’s son Karti’s foreign bank accounts by the beneficiaries of the deal.

In his plea, Swamy said the FIPB clearance was granted to the deal by Chidambaram though it was to be referred to the prime minister-headed Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), which alone was empowered to allow foreign investment of over Rs 600 crore.

“The money transaction involved in the process was around Rs 3,500 crore. Board clearance was given by the then finance minister, who should have sent it to the CCEA as the investment was way over Rs 600 crore,” he had said.