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A special court has issued a notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and sought a reply on a application filed by former finance Minister and Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram.
Chidambaram is alleging that the central probe agency has leaked parts of the chargesheet in the Aircel-Maxis case to the media to sensationalise the issue and make a mockery of the judicial process. Chidambaram later on tweeted about the alleged leaks
CBI’s chargesheet has not been given to the persons named therein. Yet it is leaked to one servile newspaper which publishes it in instalments!
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) August 28, 2018
The former union minister also stated in his plea that the “CBI is not interested in a fair trial resulting in a complete travesty of justice”. The next hearing of the matter is scheduled for October 8.
The application was moved by Chidambaram’s Advocate Arshdeep Singh and Advocate PK Dubey before special judge OP Saini, who is hearing the Aircel Maxis case.
CBI leaks its chargesheet to one newspaper because it wants a trial by the media. Fortunately, under our legal system, trial can take place only in a Court of law.
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) August 27, 2018
Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram were named in the charge sheet filed by the CBI in July. The agency is conducting an investigation on how Chidambaram, who was in charge of the Finance ministry in 2006 under United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime, granted a Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approval to a foreign company, when only the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) is allowed to do so.
The former Finance Minister came under the radar of the probe agency after Rs 3,500-crore Aircel-Maxis deal and the INX Media case involving Rs 305 crore were busted.
