Aircel-Maxis case: CBI says custodial interrogation of Chidambaram necessary
TNN | Nov 1, 2018, 05:40 IST
NEW DELHI: Opposing pre-arrest bail for former finance minister P Chidambaram, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) informed a special CBI court on Wednesday that custodial interrogation was necessary in the Aircel-Maxis money laundering case to unravel the truth as he had been evasive and uncooperative in the probe.
The ED said Chidambaram is a “highly influential and well-connected individual” and there was serious apprehension of him influencing witnesses and tampering with evidence.
The agency, which filed its response to Chidambaram’s anticipatory bail plea, said he had remained evasive and therefore pre-arrest bail at this stage would be detrimental to the investigation. “From the conduct of the petitioner, which gets amply demonstrated from the records available, the investigating agency has reached a bona fide conclusion that in the absence of custodial interrogation it will not be possible to reach the truth of the allegations as the petitioner has chosen to be evasive and non-cooperative,” the ED said.
The agency said the investigation pertains to FIPB approval allegedly fraudulently granted by Chidambaram. “As a part of a larger conspiracy, the applicant fraudulently and dishonestly granted approval. It is pertinent that the CBI has also chargesheeted the applicant upon probing irregularities and illegalities in the approval granted in the Aircel-Maxis case,” the ED asserted.
The hearing will take place on Thursday before a special CBI court. The court had on October 8 extended till November 1 the interim protection from arrest granted to Chidambaram and his son, Karti, in the Aircel-Maxis case filed by the CBI and ED.
The ED has accused the then finance minister of giving FIPB approval to Mauritius-based Global Communications and Services Holdings Ltd in 2006. It has claimed that the company had proposed to invest $800 million, or Rs 3,560 crore, while the then FM was empowered to approve foreign investment proposals of up to only Rs 600 crore.
The ED said Chidambaram is a “highly influential and well-connected individual” and there was serious apprehension of him influencing witnesses and tampering with evidence.
The agency, which filed its response to Chidambaram’s anticipatory bail plea, said he had remained evasive and therefore pre-arrest bail at this stage would be detrimental to the investigation. “From the conduct of the petitioner, which gets amply demonstrated from the records available, the investigating agency has reached a bona fide conclusion that in the absence of custodial interrogation it will not be possible to reach the truth of the allegations as the petitioner has chosen to be evasive and non-cooperative,” the ED said.
The agency said the investigation pertains to FIPB approval allegedly fraudulently granted by Chidambaram. “As a part of a larger conspiracy, the applicant fraudulently and dishonestly granted approval. It is pertinent that the CBI has also chargesheeted the applicant upon probing irregularities and illegalities in the approval granted in the Aircel-Maxis case,” the ED asserted.
The hearing will take place on Thursday before a special CBI court. The court had on October 8 extended till November 1 the interim protection from arrest granted to Chidambaram and his son, Karti, in the Aircel-Maxis case filed by the CBI and ED.
The ED has accused the then finance minister of giving FIPB approval to Mauritius-based Global Communications and Services Holdings Ltd in 2006. It has claimed that the company had proposed to invest $800 million, or Rs 3,560 crore, while the then FM was empowered to approve foreign investment proposals of up to only Rs 600 crore.
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