ED files chargesheet against Karti Chidambaram in Aircel Maxis case

Karti’s father, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, was India’s finance minister when Maxis got approval for investing in telecom firm Aircel.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday filed before a Delhi court a chargesheet against businessman Karti Chidambaram in the Aircel-Maxis case.

New Karti Chidambaram comes out a court in New Delhi, India, on March 12, 2018. (Sushil Kumar/HT file photo)

ED, which fights financial crimes in India, is probing the circumstances involved in the approval given to the Malaysia-based Maxis group for investment in Indian telecom company, Aircel, in 2006. Karti’s father, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, was India’s finance minister when Maxis got the approval.

Chidambaram, as finance minister, could only approve foreign investment proposals up to ₹600 crore but it is alleged that he approved for the Aircel-Maxis deal, which was worth ₹3,500 crore. Investigating agencies suspect Karti got kickbacks for the approval.