The CBI has recorded the statement of the former Finance Minister P. Chidamabaram in connection with the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance given to the Rs. 3,500-crore Aircel-Maxis deal in 2006.
CBI sources said Mr. Chidambaram was recently asked to give a statement on the charge that the Finance Minister could give sanction for amounts only up to Rs. 600 crore.
The sources said the matter should have been referred to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs as foreign investments above Rs. 600 crore could be cleared only by the committee, which is headed by the Prime Minister.
The agency informed the special CBI court that how this clearance was given is still under investigation. “We have not concluded the probe on this aspect yet,” CBI prosecutor K.K. Goel told the court.
When contacted, Mr. Chidambaram said, “They [CBI] took a brief statement from me on the FIPB approval. I repeated what I said in my press statement earlier. Nothing more than that.”
The file regarding the case was put up before him by officials and he approved it “in the normal course.” “In the Aircel-Maxis case, the FIPB sought the approval of the Finance Minister in accordance with the rules. The case was submitted through the Additional Secretary and Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs. Both of them recommended the case for approval. Approval was granted by me, as Finance Minister, in the normal course,” Mr. Chidambaram said in the statement.
