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Policy & Regulation
Relief for P Chidambaram in Aircel-Maxis case; whereas CBI probing how former finance minister gave the approval of Rs 3,500 crore deal in 2006
TT Correspondent |  |  23 Sep 2014

The CBI on Monday told the special 2G court hearing the Aircel-Maxis case that the foreign investment promotion board's approval in the deal was a "mistake" but it was also investigating how former finance minister P Chidambaram had approved worth $800 million, approximately Rs 3,500 crore deal in 2006 as he was competent to give approval of up to Rs 600 crore only.

It also submitted that the matter should have been referred to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) and they are probing as to how Chidambaram gave the approval.

In its chargesheet, CBI had named former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran, his brother Kalanithi Maran, T Ananda Krishnan, Malaysian national Augustus Ralph Marshall and four firms, Sun Direct TV Pvt Ltd, Maxis Communication Berhad, South Asia Entertainment Holding Ltd and Astro All Asia Network PLC.

The court also questioned as to how the CBI is probing the role of Kaveri Maran, wife of Kalanithi Maran, as she was the one who was holding 82 per cent share in Sun Direct TV Pvt Ltd.

On this, the CBI lawyer clarified that though she was a shareholder, every decision was made by her husband and said, “Documents do not reveal about her role directly. If the court gave us a further task, we will certainly investigate this aspect.” The further arguments will be on October 13.

And if we looked back then, On September 11, the CBI had told the court that former telecom Minister Dayanidhi Maran had pressurised Chennai-based telecom promoter C Sivasankaran to sell his stakes in Aircel and two subsidiary firms to Malaysian firm Maxis Group in 2006 and also granted licence within six months after the takeover of Aircel in December 2006.

The 72-page charge sheet includes the names of 151 CBI witnesses and a set of 655 documents, on which the agency has relied upon in its investigation.

    
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23 Sep 2014(IST)  
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