CBI files status report in Aircel-Maxis probe

New Delhi: The CBI and Enforcement Directorate submitted their status report in the Supreme Court in a sealed cover in the '2G case’ relating to Aircel-Maxis on the alleged involvement of former finance minister P. Chidambaram and other pending issues.

A Bench of Justices A.K. Sikri and Ashok Bhushan while taking on record the reports posted the matter for further hearing on May 10. The pending probes include the one by CBI into the role of Malaysian accused T. Anant Krishnan and Ralph Marshall in the Aircel-Maxis deal, and that by CBI regarding foreign investment promotion board approval for Aircel-Maxis deal.

If the probe is taken to its logical conclusion then Mr. Chidambaram may be in trouble for granting approval. The ED is also looking into the money laundering aspects of the Aircel-Maxis deal. This includes the probe into Karti Chidambaram’s role in connection with the Aircel-Maxis case. The Centre for Public Interest Litigation and BJP leader Subramanian Swamy had sought a probe against Mr. Chidambaram and said it was pending for a long time. In an apparent reference to Mr. Chidambaram, Dr. Swamy had said, “the CBI status report was found in the residence of one of the accused.”

In the last hearing the Centre had told the court that Malaysian businessman Anant Krishnan is not cooperating in the Aircel-Maxis Case and is not joining the probe.

It said the Malaysian government had also refused to cooperate in the investigation stating that no criminality against T. Anant Krishna of the Maxis group was established. Despite Letter Rogatories, the Malaysian government refused to furnish even a single document and they even sent letters stating that CBI was making unnecessary statements.