ED moves HC against anticipatory bail to Chidambaram, son

 The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday approached the Delhi High Court seeking cancellation of the anticipatory bail granted to former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and his Karti Chidambaram in the Aircel Maxis case.

The matter is likely to come up for hearing on Friday.

District and Sessions Judge O.P. Saini had on September 5 granted bail to the father-son duo.

While granting the relief to the Chidambarams, the court had directed them to furnish personal bail bonds of Rs 1 lakh each, and sureties of like amount.

The court had also observed: "Since the investigation is still pending, accused shall join investigation as and when called by the Investigating Officer (IO)."

The court has also directed the father-son duo not to leave the country without prior permission of the court.

"They shall not contact, threaten or influence any witness and tamper with the evidence in any manner," the court ruled.

"Considering the distance of time between the commission of the alleged crime and the filing of the instant applications, unexplained delay in investigation, there being no possibility of the accused tampering with the evidence or threatening any witness or fleeing from justice...I am satisfied that it is a fit case for grant of anticipatory bail," it had said.

The case relates to alleged irregularities in grant of Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approval in the Aircel-Maxis deal. The approval was allegedly granted in 2006 when Chidambaram was the Union Finance Minister.

According to the rules and the foreign direct investment (FDI) policy, Chidambaram was only empowered to give approval to proposals involving foreign investment up to Rs 600 crore.IANS