NEW DELHI: The Directorate of Enforcement (ED) has filed a prosecution sanction order against former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram in connection with the alleged money laundering offence in the Aircel-Maxis deal, placing the order before the Special Court under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) at Rouse Avenue, New Delhi.The ED has also placed a separate prosecution sanction order in connection with the INX Media money laundering case before the same Special Court.In a post on social media platform X on Thursday evening, the ED said, “ED has placed prosecution sanction order received from the Competent Authority against Shri. P Chidambaram, the then Union Finance Minister in respect of the offence of money laundering in the Aircel Maxis Deal, before the Ld. Special Court.”The agency also issued a detailed press release stating that the sanction was obtained from the competent authority to prosecute Chidambaram as a public servant and has now been submitted before the Special Court to expedite the pending trial. These prosecution sanction orders have been placed before the Rouse Avenue Special Court in the national capital to fast-track proceedings in both the Aircel-Maxis and INX Media cases.

Sanction obtained following Supreme Court ruling

The move comes in the backdrop of a November 6, 2024 judgment of the Supreme Court in “Directorate of Enforcement vs Bibhu Prasad Acharya & Ors.” (Criminal Appeal Nos. 4314-4316 of 2024), which held that prosecution sanction under Section 197(1) of the CrPC is applicable to complaints filed under Section 44(1)(b) of the PMLA as well.According to the ED, after the apex court’s ruling, several accused persons charged under the PMLA challenged trial proceedings in various legal forums, causing delays. To comply with the judgment and avoid further delay, the agency said it initiated remedial action by seeking prosecution sanctions in all pending complaints involving public servants.In Chidambaram’s case, the sanction was sought from the competent authority and obtained on February 10, 2026, in light of the Supreme Court’s ruling, along with an order under Section 197 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (corresponding to Section 218 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023), for prosecuting him in respect of the alleged offence of money laundering.The prosecution sanction order has now been placed before the Special Court (PMLA), Rouse Avenue, to expedite the trial, the ED said.

Background of the Aircel-Maxis case

The ED initiated an investigation under the PMLA in ECIR/05/DZ/2012, based on FIR No. RC-DAI-2011-A-0022 dated October 9, 2011, registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in 2011 in the Aircel-Maxis case.The CBI FIR alleged offences under Sections 120-B and 420 of the Indian Penal Code and Sections 8, 13(2) and 13(1)(d) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.According to the ED, its investigation revealed that Chidambaram, as the then Finance Minister, granted Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approval to the Aircel-Maxis deal in 2006 “in lieu of quid pro quo.”In the deal, the foreign investor Maxis had sought government approval for foreign direct investment (FDI) of $800 million (Rs 3,565.91 crore). The ED alleged that the competent authority for approving such an investment was the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), as the amount exceeded Rs 600 crore.However, it claimed that approval was “fraudulently and dishonestly granted” on March 20, 2006 by Chidambaram, who was competent to approve FDI proposals involving investments of Rs 600 crore or less.

Alleged proceeds of crime and attachment

The ED further alleged that illegal gratification amounting to Rs 1.16 crore was received by Karti P Chidambaram in his companies, M/s Advantage Strategic Consulting Pvt. Ltd. (ASCPL) and M/s Chess Management Services Pvt. Ltd. (CMSPL).The agency said its investigation revealed financial transactions between P Chidambaram and Karti P Chidambaram and that funds of ASCPL were spent “for and on behalf of P Chidambaram.”Proceeds of crime amounting to Rs 1.16 crore were provisionally attached through a Provisional Attachment Order dated September 23, 2017. The attachment was confirmed by the Adjudicating Authority on March 12, 2018.Subsequently, a prosecution complaint under Sections 44 and 45 read with Sections 3 and 4 of the PMLA was filed on June 13, 2018, followed by a supplementary prosecution complaint on October 25, 2018, before the Special Court (PMLA), Rouse Avenue, where Chidambaram was arraigned as accused number A-6.The Special Court, by its order dated November 27, 2021, took cognisance of the offence of money laundering.

INX Media case details

In the INX Media matter, the ED initiated investigation under PMLA in ECIR/07/HIU/2017 based on FIR No. RC2202017 E 0011 dated May 15, 2017, registered by the CBI against INX Media Pvt Ltd, INX News Pvt Ltd, Karti P Chidambaram and others.The agency alleged that FIPB approval was granted to INX Media Pvt Ltd during P Chidambaram’s tenure as Union Finance Minister and that, in consideration for granting and subsequently regularising the approval, illegal gratification was demanded and received through entities beneficially owned and controlled by Karti P Chidambaram.According to the ED, the funds were routed through shell companies including ASCPL and associated entities, layered through complex transactions across multiple jurisdictions, and later invested in shares of Vasan Health Care Pvt Ltd and AGS Health Care Pvt Ltd, before being multiplied through sale of shares and overseas investments.The total proceeds of crime in the INX Media case have been quantified at approximately Rs 65.88 crore. Proceeds of crime amounting to Rs 53.93 crore (attached on October 10, 2018) and Rs 11.04 crore (attached on March 31, 2023) have been provisionally attached and confirmed by the Adjudicating Authority.A prosecution complaint in the INX Media case was filed before the Special Court (PMLA), Rouse Avenue on June 1, 2020, and cognisance was taken on March 24, 2021, wherein P Chidambaram (Accused-1), Karti P Chidambaram (Accused-7) and eight others were arrayed as accused. A supplementary prosecution complaint was later filed on December 16, 2024.With the latest sanctions in the Aircel-Maxis and INX Media matters now placed before the Special Court, the ED said it has been making “all efforts to fast track the trial” in the cases.