The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a special court case against former Union Finance Minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram for money laundering in the Aircel Maxis and INX Media case.
These prosecution orders were issued before Rouse Avenue Special Court here in the national capital by the ED to speed up the process in these cases, news agency ANI reported.
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The agency initiated an investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 based on an FIR registered by the CBI on 9 October 2011 in the Aircel Maxis case against Chidambaram for offenses punishable under the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
In the case, the ED said its investigation revealed that the then Finance Minister P. Chidambaram had granted Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approval to Aircel Maxis in lieu of consideration.
“In the Aircel Maxis Deal, a foreign investor (Maxis) sought government approval for an FDI of USD 800 million ( ₹3565.91 crore) for which the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) was the competent authority for approval. However, as part of a larger conspiracy, consent was fraudulently and dishonestly granted P Chidambaram on March 20, 2006, which was competent to assess and approve Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) proposals involving total investments ₹600 crore or less,” the ED statement said.
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The investigation revealed that illegal gratification ₹Karti P Chidambaram (son of P Chidambaram) received 1.16 million in his companies Advantage Strategic Consulting Pvt Ltd (ASCPL) and Chess Management Services Pvt Ltd (CMSPL), the agency said.
“The investigation revealed financial transactions between P Chidambaram and Karti P Chidambaram. The investigation also revealed that ASCPL funds were also spent for and on behalf of P Chidambaram.”
Proceeds from criminal activity in the amount ₹1.16 crore was tentatively attached on September 23, 2017 and the same was confirmed by the arbitral tribunal’s order dated March 12, 2018, the agency said.
Subsequently, a prosecution complaint under PMLA dated June 2018 and a supplementary prosecution complaint dated October 2018 were filed in the Special Court (PMLA), Rouse Avenue Court, New Delhi where P Chidambaram was indicted as accused A-6.
In its resolution dated November 27, 2021, the Special Court took note of the commission of the crime of money laundering.
According to the ED, it is making all efforts to speed up the process in the case.
On 6 November 2024, the Supreme Court delivered its judgment in the case of “Directorate of Enforcement vs Bibhu Prasad Acharya, etc. Criminal Appeal No 4314-4316 of 2024” and held that the demand for sanction of the prosecution under Section 194(1) filed in the complaint part (1) Cr47(1) of the complaint PMLA, 2002 also.
Following this judgment, many accused persons charged under the PMLA, 2002 challenged the trial in several legal forums, leading to delays in the trial.
To counter such delays and comply with the Supreme Court judgment, the ED quickly initiated remedial measures by seeking prosecution sanctions in all such complaints involving government employees.
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Therefore, in view of the order of the Supreme Court, sanction of P Chidambaram was sought from the competent authority in this case and sanction was imposed on 10 February 2026 in respect of P Chidambaram in connection with the offense of money laundering.
In the matter INX Media Private LimitedThe ED has initiated an investigation under the PMLA, 2002, based on an FIR dated May 15, 2017, registered by the CBI against INX Media Pvt Ltd, INX News Pvt Ltd, Karti P Chidambaram and others for offenses punishable under the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.
In this case, the ED said, investigations revealed that FIPB approval was granted to INX Media Pvt Ltd during P Chidambaram’s tenure as Union Finance Minister.
It was further revealed that in connection with the granting and subsequent regulation of FIPB approval, “illegal gratification was demanded and received through entities effectively owned and controlled by Karti P Chidambaram”.
“Investigation revealed that such amounts were channeled through shell companies including Advantage Strategic Consulting Pvt Ltd (ASCPL) and associated entities directly or indirectly controlled and actually owned by Karti P Chidambaram. These funds were layered and integrated through investments in shares of Vasan Health Care Pvt Ltd and AGS Health Care Pvt Ltd and subsequently multiplied and multiplied through sale of shares abroad.
Investigation revealed that Karti P Chidambaram and his close associates acted on behalf of P Chidambaram and interacted with INX Media personnel in connection with FIPB approval matters and collected proceeds of crime arising therefrom.
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“Proceeds were then channeled through shell companies registered for laundering purposes, layered through complex transactions across multiple jurisdictions without any actual business activity and structured to conceal the money trail. The funds were then used for deposits in bank accounts and for investments in movable and immovable assets in India and abroad, in the names of the shell entities and associates.”
The total proceeds from criminal activity were calculated at approx ₹65.88 crore, the agency said.
A charge sheet was subsequently filed in the Special Court of Appeal (PMLA), Rouse Avenue Court on 1 June 2020 and on 24 March 2021 it was noted that P Chidambaram (accused -1), Karti P Chidambaram (accused -7) and eight other parties were named as accused.
Investigation revealed that Karti P Chidambaram received illegal gratification in his companies.
Then, on December 16, 2024, a supplementary lawsuit was also filed.
