While the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) termed the listing of former finance minister P Chidambaram as an accused in the Aircel-Maxis case a major blow to the credibility of the Congress party, the latter, on the other hand, called it a 'witch-hunt'.
Speaking to ANI, BJP leader Subramanian Swamy said, "It is a serious thing because it is not a simple FIR accused, it is a chargesheet accused which means that there is a very strong prima facie case against him and now only a trial will decide whether he should go to jail. So it is a major thing for a man, who has held the position of home minister and finance minister in the Congress government and a major blow to the credibility of Congress itself."
"When you will read the chargesheet, you'll know the extent to which he went. This is just one case against Chidambaram, there are at least 30-40 that can be filed against him. He has still got the INX matter. In every FIPB, including Air Asia, his name figures as the man who gave an illegal decision for money. So I don't think Chidambaram now has any political career left," he added.
On the other hand, senior Congress leader and former Defence Minister AK Antony said "we feel that it is a clear witch-hunt."
Earlier in the day, Chidambaram claimed that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) was pressured to file a chargesheet in the case to support a "preposterous allegation" against him.
"CBI has been pressured to file a charge sheet to support a preposterous allegation against me and officers with a sterling reputation. The case is now before the Hon'ble Court and it will be contested vigorously. I shall make no more public comment," he tweeted.
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His tweet came hours after the CBI, in its fresh chargesheet, named 18 accused, including Chidambaram, his son, Karti, and select government officials (serving and retired).
In its new chargesheet, the investigative agency said that two sets of money trails were discovered regarding Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance.
It further accused Chidambaram of misusing power, alleging that he flouted norms to grant FIPB clearance to M/S Global Communication Holding Services Ltd.
Meanwhile, Congress leader Kapil Sibal said, "What do you expect from this government and the CBI. It'll meet the same fate as other chargesheets of the CBI. Remember what happened to the 2G case, it all resulted in acquittement. Same thing will happen here."
The Aircel-Maxis deal case, which emerged out of 2G spectrum cases, pertains to a grant by the FIPB to firm M/S Global Communication Holding Services Ltd for investment in Aircel.
The ED had earlier said that the FIPB approval granted in 2006 by Chidambaram was beyond his mandate as he was only authorised to accord approval on project proposals up to Rs 600 crore.
Karti was arrested on February 28 at the Chennai airport upon his return from the United Kingdom, for his alleged role in the case.
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