Delhi High Court stays trial court proceedings against Congress leader P. Chidambaram in Aircel-Maxis case

Case related to approvals granted while Mr. Chidambaram was Finance Minister; Congress leader says ED requires a sanction to prosecute him as he was a public servant at the time of the alleged offence

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday (November 20, 2024) stayed the trial court proceedings against senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram in the Aircel-Maxis money laundering case being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), after the former Union Minister said that the ED had not obtained the required sanction to prosecute him.

The court issued a notice to the ED, seeking its response to Mr. Chidambaram’s petition challenging the trial court’s order taking cognisance of the chargesheet filed by the agency against him and his son Karti Chidambaram in the case.

“Notice issued. Till the next date of hearing, the proceedings against the petitioner shall remain stayed. List on January 22,” Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri ordered.

Sanction not needed: ED

The case deals with alleged irregularities in the grant of Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approval in the Aircel-Maxis deal. The approval was granted in 2006, when Mr. Chidambaram was the Union Finance Minister.

His counsel contended that the trial court, in November 2021, took cognisance of the chargesheets against him despite the absence of any sanction to prosecute Mr. Chidambaram, who was a public servant when the offence was allegedly committed.

The ED raised a preliminary objection, saying that sanction for prosecution was not required in this case as the allegations pertain to actions that had nothing to do with Mr. Chidambaram’s official duties.

Mr. Chidambaram’s counsel said that obtaining sanction for prosecution is a mandatory requirement. Till date, no sanction has been obtained by the ED to prosecute the Congress leader.

Published - November 20, 2024 12:40 pm IST