Accusing home minister P. Chidambram of delaying permission for the sale of Aircel to Malaysia-based Maxis in 2006, when he was finance minister, Janata Party chief Subramanian Swamy on Thursday alleged that the move helped his son Karti to benefit financially.
The Janata Party chief also shot off a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking Mr Chidambaram’s resignation and directing the CBI to include the names of the minister and his son in the FIR on Aircel-Maxis deal along with former communications minister Dayanidhi Maran.
Dr Swamy, while addressing a press conference, threatened that if his suggestions are not accepted, he will approach the court seeking a direction in this regard.
The Janata Party chief alleged that there was a “dubious transaction” between a firm “controlled” by Mr Karti and Aircel in March 2006, just before Maxis’ investment of `4,000 crores. Mr Chidambaram as finance minister had ensured that Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance on Aircel-Maxis deal be given only after the Karti-controlled company got share in the Aircel, he alleged.
However, sources close to Mr Karti denied the allegations claiming that there is no truth in it. None of the companies in which Mr Karti has any interest holds any equity nor has given any loan to any telecom company, they said.
Meanwhile, the Congress preferred to steer clear of the allegations, as AICC spokesperson Renuka Chowdhury said, “How am I responsible for answering to allegations about Karti Chidambaram’s business deals. He can himself reply to Dr Swamy’s allegations.”