Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram today appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the Aircel-Maxis money laundering case. The Congress leader arrived at the agency's headquarters in New Delhi and was accompanied by a lawyer. The ED is expected to record his statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

The agency had issued a fresh summon to Mr Chidambaram yesterday to appear before the investigating officer of the case.

Mr Chidambaram's role has come under the scanner in the 3,500 crore rupee Aircel-Maxis deal in which the ED has already questioned his son, Karti.

The former Finance Minister had last week approached the court of Special Judge OP Saini seeking relief from arrest by the ED in the case.

The same court today directed ED not to take any coercive action or arrest him till the 10th of next month. The court passed the order after ED sought more time to file a detailed reply to Mr Chidambaram's plea.

The case pertains to grant of Foreign Investment Promotion Board clearance to firm M/S Global Communication Holding Services Ltd in 2006 for investment in Aircel.

The Supreme Court had, in March, directed ED and CBI to complete their probe into the 2G spectrum allocation cases, including the Aircel Maxis case, in six months.