Aircel-Maxis case: P. Chidambaram gets interim relief till June 5

Former Finance Minister, P. Chidambaram on Wednesday got an interim relief in Aircel-Maxis case. A special CBI court in New Delhi today said that no action could be taken against the senior congress leader till the next hearing of the case.

The case would now be next heard on June 5. P. Chidambaram would also be appearing before the the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the case on the same day. Congress leader Kapil Sibal argued on behalf of P. Chidambaram.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) are probing the Aircel-Maxis case of alleged money laundering. The CBI had arrested P Chidambaram's son Karti Chidambaram in connection with the case in February this year.

In September 2017, the Enforcement Directorate had attached assets worth Rs1.16 crore of Karti.

Later in the year on December 1, ED also searched the premises of his close relatives and others. In the month of January, ED had carried out searches on the Delhi and Chennai properties of Karti.

During the ongoing probe in the Aircel-Maxis case, Karti Chidambaram and his father P Chidambaram have said that the charge sheet in this case has already been quashed by the Special Court and all the accused are discharged.

However, the both the agencies, ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation have maintained that despite the charge sheet has been quashed the FIR still remains.

Earlier, the Supreme Court slammed probe agencies over the delay in completing the investigation into the Aircel-Maxis case in the 2G scam, asking if "invisible hands" were at play.

A bench led by Justice Arun Mishra directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to complete the probe within six months, observing that "you cannot keep the people of the country in the dark".

"Issue is serious for this country. People want to know why investigation not been completed... We are worried about this case, we are very unhappy," the bench said.

"We direct the competent investigating agencies to complete the investigation within six months in all the cases and aspects concerned with 2G spectrum case. No stone shall be left unturned," the bench added.

Attorney General KK Venugopal submitted that he would file a status report that would "throw light" on this matter after the top Court directed him to appear as an amicus, an impartial adviser.