Delhi’s Patiala House Court on Thursday extended interim protection from arrest for former Union Minister P Chidambaram in connection with the Aircel-Maxis case. The Enforcement Directorate had wanted custody of Chidambaram for interrogation, and said he wasn’t cooperating in the probe

Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi appeared in court for the senior Congress leader and argued that since the ED had filed its reply yesterday evening, they needed time to file a response. The solicitor general for the ED told the court that there was complete non-cooperation by Chidambaram, and that there was a deadline given by the Supreme Court to conclude the investigation.

The special designated court set November 26 as the next date of hearing in the matter and extended interim protection from arrest for P Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram till then. Both have been named as accused in the case by the investigating agency.

According to the ED, FIPB approvals were wrongfully given in the Aircel Maxis case. At least 2,721 files related to FIBP approvals were scanned by the ED. These approvals were given between May 2004 and 2009, and between August 2012 and May 2014.

“54 files of FIPB were shortlisted and examined further in respect of said approval by the then finance minister given to Aircel Ltd on 20.03.2006 in Aircel-Maxis deal [sic],” read an ED document accessed by India Today.

“As per the government policy and FIPB guidelines as applicable in 2006, where the total foreign inflow is 600 crore and above, the competent authority was CCEA to give approval for foreign investment. As the total inflow of foreign exchange involved in the acquisition of shares of Aircel Ltd was Rs 3,520 cr, therefore CCEA was the competent authority to give FIPB approval but the approval was given by the then finance minister,” the document adds.