Details of ED's day-long questioning of P Chidambaram in Aircel-Maxis case accessed. Here's what happened

Republic TV has accessed details of the questioning of former Finance Minister P Chidambaram by the Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday.

Over the course of day-long questioning by the ED, as per sources, Chidambaram was quizzed over the alleged irregularities in the approval that was given to Malaysian firm Global Communication Holding Services Ltd in 2006 for an investment of Rs 3500 crore in telecom company Aircel. 

Statements from officials of the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) were recorded by the ED and CBI. As per sources, Chidambaram maintained that the proposal was forwarded by the FIPB and only then approved by him. He was confronted with documents seized by the ED and will be called in for questioning again.

The crux of the matter in the case is that Chidambaram, as Finance Minister, was only allowed to accord an approval to project proposals up to Rs 600 crore. Anything beyond that required the approval of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA). Further, a company linked with P Chidambaram's son Karti was reportedly employed as a consultant by Aircel for the investment.

After the questioning, Chidambaram tweeted his account: 

Earlier in the day, the Patiala House court had extended P Chidambaram's protection from arrest by the ED in the case till July 10. Chidambaram's anticipatory bail plea didn't, however, recuse him from answering summons by the agency. The ED also said it would reply on the bail plea on July 10, the same day on which Karti Chidambaram's bail plea will be heard.