CBI questions Chidambaram for nearly 4 hrs in INX media case

A day after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) quizzed P Chidambaram in Aircel-Maxis case, the CBI on Wednesday questioned him in connection with investigations into foreign investment clearances given to INX media during his tenure.

Officials said he was questioned for nearly four hours in connection with the case.

The former finance minister's tryst with investigators is not ending any time soon as the ED has once again summoned him on June 12 in the Aircel-Maxis case.

"Appeared before CBI. FIR contains no allegations against me. Questions and answers were based on the files of FIPB. Hence, there was little to add to the record," Chidambaram tweeted after the questioning.

Chidambaram's role as finance minister in the UPA-I regime in granting approval by Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) to INX Media has come under the CBI scanner.

The CBI had claimed "irregularities" in the granting of FIPB approval and Chidambaram's son Karti was arrested by the CBI in the INX Media case in February while both had denied allegations against them.

According to the FIR registered on May 15, 2017, in INX Media case, officials of the ministry of finance and FIPB acted under the influence of Karti to grant FIPB clearance for foreign investment, which the firm had already acquired without any formal approval from the government.

Chidambaram was the finance minister and the head of FIPB then.

The FIR claimed that there were irregularities in granting of FIPB clearance on investment to the tune of Rs 305 crore in INX media.