Aircel Maxis Case: Chidambaram, Karti get anticipatory bail

The court has also ordered the father-son duo to not leave the country without the court's prior permission

A Delhi court granted anticipatory bail to former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram in both the ED and the CBI matters relating to the Aircel Maxis case on Thursday. District and Sessions Judge O.P. Saini, ordered the applicants to furnish a personal bail bond of Rs 1 lakh each along with the surety of a like amount, while granting the relief to the father-son duo, IANS reported.

"Considering the distance of time between the commission of the alleged crime and the filing of the instant applications, unexplained delay in the investigation, there being no possibility of the accused tampering with the evidence or threatening any witness or fleeing from justice...I am satisfied that it is a fit case for grant of anticipatory bail," the court observed in its order.

The court further said, "Since the investigation is still pending, the accused shall join the investigation as and when called by the investigating officer (IO)."

Also Read: INX Media case: Chidambaram in CBI custody in till Sep 5, says SC

The court has also ordered the father-son duo to not leave the country without the court’s prior permission. "They shall not contact, threaten or influence any witness and tamper with the evidence in any manner," the court ruled. The case reportedly relates to the alleged irregularities in granting Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approval in the Aircel-Maxis deal in 2006 when Chidambaram was the Union Finance Minister.

As per to the rules and the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) policy, Chidambaram was only empowered to give approval to the proposals involving foreign investments of up to Rs 600 crore.

With inputs from IANS

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