A day after the CBI filed a chargesheet naming former finance minister P. Chidambaram and his son Karti as an accused in the Aircel-Maxis case, sources told THE WEEK that the Enforcement Directorate has asked the agency to share details of the investigation for further action.
The ED, which is probing the money laundering charges in the case, has already chargesheeted Karti Chidambaram on June 13. Now, the ED is closing in, as it prepares to file a supplementary chargesheet in a month's time.
Hectic closed door meetings took place on Friday between the officers of the two agencies and lawyers as the ED sought details of the CBI chargesheet, including the two sets of money laundering trail regarding the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance.
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The CBI has alleged in its chargesheet that certain illegal payments were given to Karti's firms during the Aircel-Maxis deal. The ED is probing whether there was a quid pro quo and what role the former minister played in granting the FIPB clearance. The supplementary chargesheet is expected to focus on this aspect, sources said. Chidambaram, who has already been questioned by the ED, has termed both the CBI and ED investigations as “preposterous allegations”.
However, as the fast-paced developments have both the investigating agencies―CBI and ED―coming together to probe the matter further, the Enforcement Directorate joint director Rajeshwar Singh, probing the Aircel-Maxis case, has made an attempt to clear the air with the finance ministry. He has sent a response to the Union finance ministry's memo served to him last week for “wilful insubordination” after he came out heavily against revenue secretary Hasmukh Adhia.
In what is being termed as a “chargesheet” served on Singh is a memorandum issued to him under service rules. It is learnt that Singh has expressed regret for using words which have hurt the revenue secretary.
After the Supreme Court allowed the Centre to examine the allegations of disproportionate assets made against Singh last month, the officer had written to the revenue secretary saying some people were targeting him to derail the investigation in the Aircel-Maxis case which was at a crucial stage besides levelling other allegations, which were vehemently denied by the finance ministry.
According to government sources, the finance ministry has got a response from Singh saying that the memo served to him on July 9, was against the principles of natural justice and he should be granted his right to a fair and unbiased hearing. He is learnt to have said that he had only raised issues of public importance and any attempt of serving a “chargesheet” on him would be like “shooting the messenger”.