Aircel-Maxis Case: Delhi High Court Stays Trial Court Proceedings Against P Chidambaram Over Alleged Money Laundering

(MENAFN- Live Mint) Delhi High Court on Wednesday, November 20, put a stay order on the proceedings against Senior Congress Leader P Chidambaram's alleged involvement in the Aircel Maxis money laundering case, reported the news agency PTI.

The high court has also asked for a response from the Enforcement Directorate (ED ) over a plea filed by Chidambaram challenging the trial court's decision to take cognizance of the chargesheet filed by the ED against him in the Aircel-Maxis money laundering case, as per the report.

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The Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri bench issued the stay order to the trial court proceedings and listed the matter to be taken up in January 2025 for a detailed hearing. The court also issued a notice to the Enforcement Directorate.

Chidambaram, through his advocates, stated that the trial court judge erred in taking cognizance of the of the offence (under Section 3 of the PMLA), punishable (under Section 4 of the PMLA ), without any prior Sanction (under Section 197(1), CrPC) having been obtained by the Respondent/ED for prosecution of the Petitioner herein, despite the fact that the Petitioner was a public servant (being the Finance Minister) at the time the alleged commission of the alleged offence, reported the agency.

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As per the ED's plea, P Chidambaram, the Minister of Finance at that time, allegedly illegally granted FIPB approval for $800 million (nearly ₹3,565.91 crores) but was only competent to approve up to ₹600 crore foreign direct investment (FDI ), according to the agency report.

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