New Delhi: A day after former finance minister P. Chidambaram accused the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of spreading misinformation harassing his son Karti Chidambaram in the Aircel-Maxis case, the Congress has also jumped to his defence. Accusing the agencies of becoming “captive puppets,” the Congress communications chief hit out at the Central government and the ruling BJP, saying, “Persecution, vendetta and vilification of Opposition leaders have become the ‘sine qua non’ of the current BJP government.
“Tragically, the CBI, ED and other investigating agencies have become the captive puppets in government’s disgraceful mal-intent to oppress, hound and intimidate its opponents,” the party said.
The Congress further termed the actions of the agencies as “diversionary tactics of the BJP” to move attention away from the real issues being faced by the people. Congress leader Randeep Surjewala said that the Aircel-Maxis transaction was approved by Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) in 2006. Incidentally, FIPB comprises of six senior most secretaries of Government of India. Concurrence and approval then came from the then finance minister P. Chidambaram.
He further added, “Repeated persecution and scurrilous witch hunt of the Chidambaram family in Aircell-Maxis case by BJP government and CBI/ED have crossed all proportions in complete negation of the facts.”
The CBI had summoned Karti Chidambaram in the case Aicel-Maxis case but he refused to appear before the CBI stating that the accused in the case have all been discharged by the court in the said matter and had terminated all proceedings in the case.
Lawyer of Karti has said that his client has already appeared before the CBI in November 2014 and answered all questions. Earlier the agencies have already questioned the former Finance Minister P Chidambaram over the issue. According to the CBI the allegations against Karti are that the money was paid by Aircel Maxis to the two companies controlled by Karti Chidambaram as a quid pro quo for FIPB approval
