After Getting Clearance To Prosecute P Chidambaram In Aircel-Maxis Case, CBI Now Seeks Sanction In INX Media Case

After getting the sanction of the Central government to prosecute former finance minister P Chidambaram in the Aircel-Maxis case, CBI has now sought sanction from the Centre to prosecute him in the INX Media case, The New Indian Express has reported.

According to the report, the bureau has almost finalised a charge sheet in the INX media case, which was registered by CBI on 15 May 2017. Now, Central permission for prosecution is being sought as mandated under the Prevention of Corruption Act (POCA).

Chidambaram’s name was not listed as an accused in the First Information Report (FIR) by CBI but seeking sanction for prosecution raises the possibility of his name figuring in the final report of the agency, officials were cited in the report as saying.

POCA mandates an investigating agency to get prior sanction from the competent authority for prosecution of an accused public servant.

Chidambaram’s son Karti was arrested by CBI for allegedly receiving Rs 10 lakh in the case that pertains to alleged irregularities in clearing foreign investment proposals to the tune of Rs 305 crore. However, Karti was later released on bail.

CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) are both investigating the foreign investment clearance granted to Aircel-Maxis deal in 2006 and INX Media in 2007 during Chidambaram’s tenure as union finance minister.