Controversial Aircel-Maxis deal raised in Lok Sabha

NEW DELHI: The controversial Aircel-Maxis deal was raised in the Lok Sabha today, with AIADMK making a a strong demand that a former finance minister and his son should be probed by the CBI without delay.

Raising the issue during Zero Hour, AIADMK leader M Thambidurai alleged irregularities in the grant of FIPB clearance to Aircel-Maxis deal in 2006 and charged the previous UPA government with not taking any action.

He claimed that CBI is delaying questioning the two despite their "absolute involvement" in the deal.

He also said that the irregularities had led to a loss of Rs 1.76 lakh crore to the public exchequer in the 2G spectrum scam.

The AIADMK leader alleged it was a dubious deal and the CBI should take up with the former Finance Minister as to how the FIPB clearance was given to the Aircel-Maxis deal when the latter had declared to the Malaysian Stock Exchange that it had acquired 99.7 per cent shares in Aircel.

"This is a clear violation" of Indian laws which permit a maximum of 74 per cent foreign investment in telecom sector.

Amid protests by some Congress members, Thambidurai wanted Finance Minister Arun Jaitley and Home Minister Rajnath Singh to take action in this regard.

Rejecting the views of the CBI Director, Attorney General Mukul Rohtagi had last week opined that there was enough evidence with the agency to file charge sheet against former Telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran and his brother Kalanithi in the Aircel-Maxis deal case.

Rohtagi said the available material with CBI is enough to prosecute Dayanidhi and Kalanithi in the Aircel Maxis case.