New Delhi: The Delhi High Court stayed the trial court proceedings against former Union minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Wednesday in the Aircel-Maxis case lodged by the Enforcement Directorate.
The former finance minister had moved Delhi High Court on Tuesday to challenge a trial court’s order taking cognizance of the chargesheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate against him and his son Karti Chidambaram in the case.
“Notice issued. Till the next date of hearing, the proceedings against the petitioner shall remain stayed. List on January 22,” Justice Manoj Kumar Ohri said, adding that he will pass a detailed order later.
Senior advocate N Hariharan and lawyers Arshdeep Singh Khurana and Akshat Gupta, representing P Chidambaram, contended that the special judge took cognizance of the charge sheet for the alleged offense of money laundering in the absence of any sanction for prosecution of the former Union minister who was a public servant when the offense was allegedly committed.
The ED counsel raised a preliminary objection on the maintainability of the petition and submitted that the sanction for prosecution was not required in this case as the allegations pertain to Chidambaram’s actions that have nothing to do with his official duties.
The court granted a stay on the trial court proceedings, pending a decision on the maintainability of the petition.
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