SC slams CBI and ED. Directs to finish the investigation in Aircel-Maxis case in six months

Coming down heavily on the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Supreme Court on Monday gave an ultimatum of six months to finish the investigation in the Aircel-Maxis scam, involving the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) violation involving former Finance Minister P Chidambaram and his son. The Bench headed by the Justices Arun Mishra and Navin Sinha directed the agencies to file a status of the probe in two weeks, posting the case to April 2.

To the AG’s offer to produce a status report in a sealed cover in two weeks, the main petitioner Subramanian Swamy intervened and said that these sealed covers are now found from the main accused’s bedroom! Swamy did not mention the name of Chidambaram.

Repeating the scathing remarks on the delays from CBI and ED, Justice Arun Mishra asked Attorney General K K Venugopal to explain the reasons behind the four-year-long delay in Aircel-Maxis case. The AG tried offering an excuse on the no response from Malaysian government on the details sought regarding the Maxis owners. To the AG’s offer to produce a status report in a sealed cover in two weeks, the main petitioner Subramanian Swamy intervened and said that these sealed covers are now found from the main accused’s bedroom! Swamy did not mention the name of Chidambaram. However, the Bench asked for an affidavit, rather than a sealed cover.

“People can’t be kept in the dark with regard to investigations on sensitive matters such as the 2G spectrum related cases,” said the Judges, reminding the AG that the investigating officers will face a contempt of court case if there is any further delay.

With this Supreme Court’s ultimatum, the noose has started tightening on Chidambaram, who was evading all actions from CBI and ED, with his unholy nexus with powerful people in Government. Though Chidambaram was summoned in December 2014, the then CBI Director Anil Sinha played dirty tricks to save him. Then the Joint Director Ashok Tewari, who summoned Chidambaram, was shunted out of the CBI within weeks to his parent cadre in Himachal Pradesh. Contrast this with the case of JS Kumawat, who has managed to bag plum assignments in the Ministry of Finance after being asked to go back to his parent cadre, Bihar[1]. The Enforcement Directorate under Finance Ministry headed by Arun Jaitley faced many barriers in taking actions against Chidambaram. ED’s Joint Director Rajeshwar Singh faced many hardships from the Finance Ministry[2] and he was reinstated only after the main petitioner Subramanian Swamy’s petitions.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court approved the appointment of Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Tushar Mehta as Special Public Prosecutor (SPP), while appreciating the services of the former SPP Anand Grover, who relinquished his post after Tushar Mehta’s appointment by the Centre.

Karthi in custody till March 24

The trial court in the afternoon sent Karti to judicial custody till March 24 in the INX Media bribe case. Special Judge Sunil Rana directed adequate security to Karti in Tihar jail.

References:

[1] Top Finance Ministry official honey trapped in Paris – Mar 11, 2018, PGurus.com

[2] Is Arun Jaitley double dealing in the probes against Chidambaram and Ahmed Patel? – Nov 6, 2017, PGurus.com

• Author
• Recent Posts

Team PGurus

We are a team of focused individuals with expertise in at least one of the following fields viz. Journalism, Technology, Economics, Politics, Sports & Business. We are factual, accurate and unbiased.

Latest posts by Team PGurus (see all)

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi: A Gujju businessman who does not invest his precious time for a losing battle - April 13, 2024
• NIA arrests two accused Shazib and Taahaa in Bengaluru’s Rameshwaram Cafe blast case from Kolkata - April 12, 2024
• National Herald scam: Adjudicating Authority upholds Rs.752 crore assets attached by ED - April 11, 2024