NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday pulled up the CBI for not interrogating former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram in connection with the Aircel-Maxis deal case, and asked the agency to brief it on the probe it was conducting so far on FIPB clearance given.
A Bench headed by Chief Justice H L Dattu asked the CBI to respond after BJP leader Subramaniam Swamy submitted that there has been no progress on that front, even though the CBI had stated in its charge sheet that aspect needed to be probed. The court directed CBI to respond by Oct 16.
Subramanian Swamy had informed the court that the CBI chargesheet points to Chidambaram’s alleged role in the Aircel-Maxis deal and contended that Chidambaram has not been questioned in the case even as the CBI, in its chargesheet in a trial court, indicted him for his role in clearing crucial files.
“There has been no progress on the front (Chidambaram’s questioning) even though the agency stated in its chargesheet that aspect needed to be probed,” Swamy informed the court.
“Chidambaram and his son should be investigated and in the chargesheet against Maran, there is a mention of the fact that the CBI plans to go into this question of whether the FIPB could have given clearance legally,” Swamy submitted in the court.