New Delhi

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has placed before a special court the prosecution sanction obtained from the competent authority against former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram in connection with alleged offences of money laundering in the Aircel Maxis and INX Media cases.

The sanction orders were submitted before the Special Court (PMLA) at Rouse Avenue Court to expedite trial proceedings.

The ED initiated its probe under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, based on a CBI FIR registered on October 9, 2011, in the Aircel Maxis case. The FIR alleged offences under the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Corruption Act.

According to the agency, its investigation found that during his tenure as Finance Minister, Chidambaram granted Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approval to the Aircel Maxis deal allegedly in lieu of quid pro quo. The ED claimed that the proposal involved foreign direct investment of USD 800 million, for which approval should have been granted by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, but was instead cleared at the ministerial level.

The agency further alleged that illegal gratification amounting to Rs 1.16 crore was received by Karti P Chidambaram through companies linked to him, including Advantage Strategic Consulting Pvt Ltd and Chess Management Services Pvt Ltd. It claimed that proceeds of crime amounting to Rs 1.16 crore were provisionally attached in 2017 and later confirmed by the Adjudicating Authority.

A prosecution complaint and a supplementary complaint were filed in 2018, and the Special Court took cognisance of the alleged offence of money laundering in November 2021.

The ED said it sought prosecution sanction following a November 6, 2024 judgment of the Supreme Court of India in Directorate of Enforcement vs Bibhu Prasad Acharya, which held that sanction under Section 197(1) of the CrPC is applicable to complaints filed under the PMLA involving public servants. The sanction against Chidambaram was obtained on February 10, 2026.

In the INX Media case, the ED initiated investigation under the PMLA based on a 2017 CBI FIR against INX Media Pvt Ltd and others. The agency alleged that FIPB approval was granted during Chidambaram’s tenure as Finance Minister and that illegal gratification was routed through entities beneficially owned and controlled by Karti P Chidambaram.

According to the ED, proceeds of crime in the case have been quantified at approximately Rs 65.88 crore. Assets worth Rs 53.93 crore and Rs 11.04 crore were provisionally attached in 2018 and 2023, respectively, and confirmed by the Adjudicating Authority.

A prosecution complaint was filed in June 2020, with cognisance taken in March 2021, arraigning P Chidambaram, Karti P Chidambaram and others as accused. A supplementary prosecution complaint was filed in December 2024.

READ MORE: When Kalam, Ansari, Dilip Kumar prayed in the mosque as common Muslims

The ED said it is taking steps to ensure that trial proceedings in the cases are fast-tracked.