New Delhi, Feb 26 (NationPress) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has submitted the prosecution sanction order from the relevant authority against P. Chidambaram, the former Union Finance Minister, concerning charges of money laundering in the Aircel Maxis case, to the Special Court, as stated by the financial investigative agency on Thursday.

The prosecution sanction order, secured on February 10, 2026, has been presented before the Special Rouse Avenue Court to accelerate the trial process in the matter, according to the ED.

The ED commenced its investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on October 9, 2011, which was initiated by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) regarding offences punishable under Section 120-B in conjunction with Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and Sections 8, 13(2), and 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

The investigation has uncovered that Chidambaram approved the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance for Aircel Maxis in exchange for a quid pro quo.

In the Aircel Maxis transaction, the foreign investor (Maxis) sought government approval for FDI amounting to $800 million (approx. Rs 3,565.91 crore), which required clearance from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA).

However, as part of a larger conspiracy, the approval was deceitfully granted by the then Finance Minister Chidambaram on March 20, 2006, who was only authorized to consider and approve FDI proposals involving total investments of Rs 600 crore or less, as noted in the statement.

The investigation revealed that Karti Chidambaram received illegal gratification of Rs 1.16 crore through his companies M/s Advantage Strategic Consulting Private Limited (ASCPL) and M/s Chess Management Services Private Limited (CMSPL).

Additionally, the inquiry disclosed financial transactions between P. Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram.

It was also found that funds from ASCPL were used for the benefit of P. Chidambaram, according to the statement.

The proceeds of crime totaling Rs 1.16 crore have been provisionally attached, a decision confirmed by the adjudicating authority in an order dated March 12, 2018.

Following this, a prosecution complaint was filed under Sections 44 and 45 in conjunction with Sections 3 and 4 of the PMLA dated June 13, 2018, and a supplementary complaint on October 25, 2018, before the Special PMLA Court at New Delhi's Rose Avenue, where P. Chidambaram was designated as accused number six.

The Special Court, through an order dated November 27, 2021, acknowledged the commission of an offence related to money laundering. The Enforcement Directorate has been making consistent efforts to expedite the trial in this case, as per the statement.

On November 6, 2024, the Supreme Court delivered a judgment in the case 'Enforcement Directorate vs Bibhu Prasad Acharya, etc.' affirming that the requirement for prosecution sanction as outlined in Section 197(1) of the CrPC is also applicable to complaints filed under Section 44(1)(b) of the PMLA, 2002.

Subsequent to the Apex Court's ruling, numerous accused individuals charged under the PMLA, 2002, have contested the trial proceedings in various legal forums, resulting in delays in the trial.

To address this delay and comply with the Supreme Court's directive, the ED has promptly taken remedial measures by requesting prosecution sanctions in all relevant prosecutorial complaints involving public servants, as highlighted in the statement.

Therefore, in accordance with the Supreme Court's order, the sanction was acquired from the competent authority on February 10, 2026, alongside this court order under Section 197 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Section 218 of Bhartiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, dated February 10, 2026) to prosecute P. Chidambaram in relation to the offence of money laundering.