P Chidambaram gets respite in Aircel-Maxis case, awaits relief in INX Media case

NEW DELHI: Former finance minister P Chidambaram obtained temporary relief from arrest in the Aircel-Maxis case on Wednesday, while a similar plea for anticipatory bail in the INX Media case will be heard on Thursday.

A CBI special court dealing with the 2G case asked the Enforcement Directorate, which is prosecuting the Aircel-Maxis case involving alleged money laundering against Chidambaram and his son, not to take any coercive action against him till June 5. However, Chidambaram has to appear before the agency on that day, as directed by the ED.

His other plea in the Delhi High Court will be heard on Thursday morning, hours before Chidambaram is scheduled to appear for questioning by the Central Bureau of Investigation. The INX Media case is related to alleged irregularities when the media company sought foreign investment approval in 2007.


In the Aircel case, special judge OP Saini asked the ED to explain by June 5 why anticipatory bail should not be granted to Chidambaram. Senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who appeared for Chidambaram, urged the court to grant him relief on the ground that the former finance minister had “clean antecedents” and “deep roots in society.”

Chidambaram contended that all the evidence in the case was already in possession of the government and nothing more was to be recovered from him. Special public prosecutor Nitesh Rana, appearing for the ED, opposed his plea on the ground that he had failed to appear before the agency on Wednesday, as directed earlier.

The special court has already granted his son Karti Chidambaram interim protection from arrest in the case until July 10.