Aircel-Maxis scam: Enforcement Directorate summons Karti Chidambaram

New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued summons to ex-finance minister P Chidambaram's son, Karti Chidambaram, over his alleged role in Aircel-Maxis scam under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

The agency had issued a notice to Karti to present himself in person or through an authorised representative and submit personal financial documents and those related to a firm this week.

This is the first time that a notice has been issued to Karti in the case which is being investigated since last year.

Sources said the summons have been issued by the Investigating Officer of the case and Deputy Director Rajeshwar Singh.

It is understood that Karti has now sought more time to comply.

The probe pertains to firms identified as Advantage Strategic Consulting Private Limited and Chess Global Advisory Services Pvt Ltd, where Karti had been a director, and a few others for alleged violations under the stringent Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

The agency, along with the I-T department, had conducted search and seizure operations on the business premises of Chess Global firm in Chennai in the presence of Karti last December.

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had earlier said the investigation into the alleged Aircel-Maxis scam was at a "critical stage" but refused to divulge more details about the possible money laundering case involving Karti's firms.

Karti has denied any wrongdoing and has reiterated his cooperation with probe agencies.

P Chidambaram had alleged that he was the real target of the "preposterous, malicious and totally false" allegations of undisclosed assets levelled against his son Karti.

In August last year, the Enforcement Directorate had issued summonses to two directors of a firm linked to Karti in connection with the probe in this case.

ED's probe had found that Rs 26 lakh has been allegedly sent from the firm to Aircel Televentures.

The Aircel-Maxis deal is being probed by both ED and CBI and the case is a part of the overall probe in the 2G scam case.

ED is also getting in touch with a number of countries like UAE, South Africa, US, Greece, Spain, Switzerland, France, Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and British Virgin Islands on a reciprocal arrangement basis to obtain further leads in this case.

The probe agency had also filed a chargesheet in the Aircel-Maxis deal that was part of the 2G spectrum allocation case and had named former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran, his brother Kalanithi, his wife Kavery Kalanithi and few other individuals and two companies as accused in the case.

The agency had also told the court that further probe relating to Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approval in the Aircel-Maxis deal and related issues are subject of further investigation under anti-money laundering laws.

It had said the approval was given when Chidambaram was Finance Minister in 2006.

(With PTI inputs)