On February 20, 2020 a Delhi Court Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar granted time till May 4, 2020 Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to complete investigation in the Aircel-Maxis matter against former Union Minister P Chidambaram and his son Karti. ED told court that LR had been sent to Malaysia and there were developments in the case.
What are Letters Rogatory (LR)?
Letters Rogatory (LR), also known as Judicial Request, is issued by court. In which court, on the request of investigation agency, requests to the concerned country to furnish information regarding any case in which investigation is going on.
The CBI and the ED had alleged that P Chidambaram, as finance minister during the United Progressive Alliance regime, granted approval to the deal beyond his capacity benefitting certain persons, and received kickbacks. According to rules and the foreign direct investment policy in force at that time, Chidambaram was allegedly empowered to give approval to proposals involving foreign investment only up to Rs 600 crore. Currently, P. Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram are out on bail.
The court had on January 28, 2020 "revived" the Aircel-Maxis cases filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate against Chidambaram and his son that were earlier adjourned 'sine die'. The case was adjourned 'sine die' -- without fixing any date for hearing -- on September 5 last year with the court noting that the two probe agencies were seeking "adjournment after adjournment". On January 28, 2020 Delhi’s District Judge Sujata Kohli had given directions to ED and CBI to submit Status report of their investigation into Aircel-Maxis case, observing seriousness of allegations as mentioned in charge sheet.
Author – Satwik Sharma
