ED quizzes P Chidambaram fourth time in Aircel-Maxis PMLA case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday questioned former finance minister P Chidambaram in the Aircel-Maxis money laundering case for the fourth time, officials said.

Chidambaram arrived at the agency's office here early in the day, they said, adding that his statement will be recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

This is the fourth time the senior Congress leader is being questioned in the probe. He was last grilled for about six hours on August 24.

Some specific queries on the circumstances and procedures adopted by the now-defunct Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) are being put to the former Union minister during these sessions, it is learnt.

Chidambaram's son Karti has been questioned twice by the ED in this case.

While the CBI has filed a charge sheet in this case involving the politician in July, the ED is expected to file its own prosecution complaint within the next fortnight.

IDBI Bank fraud case: CBI probes documents on loans to Aircel ex-promoter

IDBI Bank today said the CBI has examined documents related to its loan exposure to the companies of former Aircel promoter C Sivasankaran.

The state-owned bank had given a loan to Axcel Sunshine Ltd in February 2014, which had turned into a non-performing asset (NPA) or bad loan in December 2015, IDBI Bank said in a regulatory filing.

It was responding to exchanges with regard to a news article that the CBI has booked ex-Aircel (telecom firm) promoter Sivasankaran's firms in Rs 600 crore loan fraud case.

"CBI in this context has been examining certain documents relating to the loan given by IDBI Bank and have spoken to the senior officers of the bank, who had handled the case," IDBI Bank said.

"The officers are providing the requisite information and clarification to the investigating authorities," it added.