Corruption Charges on former finance minister has been debated in the parliament.
What are the charges?
The CBI has filed a charge sheet against Former Union Minister P. Chidambaram, his son Karti Chidambaram and 16 others.
The charge sheet was filed on the ground that Foreign Investment Promotion Board approval was granted for investments made in Aircel by Global Communication Holdings Service.
A Mauritius-based subsidiary of Maxis, a Malaysian conglomerate was involved in the violation of norms.
Recently, this issue came on the eve of the debate in Parliament on a no-confidence motion against the Union government.
What are the concerns with CBI actions?
Mr. Chidambaram is accused of cheating and bribery, and having exceeded his authority by clearing investments amounting to Rs. 3,200 crore.
But any investment above Rs. 600 crore needed the clearance of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs.
For a case that essentially turns on documentary evidence, the CBI has taken unusually long to come to this conclusion.
Mr. Chidambaram’s statement on the FIPB approval was recorded in December 2014, and since then his son has been under the scanner.
The filing of a charge sheet against Mr. Chidambaram ends the uncertainty about the agency’s intentions.
What are the challenges before CBI?
The case which involves the charges against Mr. Chidambaram has been originally associated with 2G spectrum case.
Given that the main case against former Union Communications Minister relating to the Aircel-Maxis investment was thrown out at the pre-trial stage by the Special Court, the CBI has a greater burden of proof to discharge.
In this case Mr. Chidambaram has maintained there was nothing amiss about the FIPB approval, which was given only after being processed at various levels.
It may not be enough for the agency to prove that the Aircel-Maxis investment supposedly worth Rs. 180 crore actually had a value of Rs. 3,200 crore if the premium attached to it was taken into account.
It also has to establish a clear link between the FIPB approval and some payments received by companies said to be controlled by Mr. Karti.
In various instances the Special Judge before whom the charge sheet has been filed, has a record of not accepting theories of quid pro quo behind government decisions without sufficient evidence.
Thus the case against Mr. Chidambaram will be a test for the CBI not only on merits, but also in disproving the allegations of political vendetta.
