No more adjournments in Aircel-Maxis case, it has almost been a year, Special Judge OP Saini

Refusing to grant an adjournment of four weeks to the Enforcement Directorate in the Aircel-Maxis case, a Special Court in Delhi today granted a final opportunity to the prosecution to contest the anticipatory bail application filed by Congress leader P Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram on May 6..Special Judge OP Saini said yesterday in Court,.“I cannot allow the matter to linger for four more weeks. Please argue the matter…this is too much.“.While P Chidambaram had moved an anticipatory bail in the Aircel-Maxis case in July last year, his son Kartihad preferred the plea in March last year. The father-son duo has been enjoying interim protection from arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as well as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) due to consecutive adjournments..Meanwhile, both the CBI and the ED have filed a chargesheet against Chidambaram, his son and others in the case. In spite of sanction from the Central Government, the cognizance on the chargesheet is also pending..The ED today sought an adjournment on the ground that it was awaiting material evidence in the case from certain countries, pursuant to letters of rogatory sent to them..Seeking additional time of four weeks, the ED represented by advocates Sonia Mathur, NK Matta and Nitesh Rana, argued that no prejudice would be caused to P Chidambaram and his son as they were already given interim protection..There is no justifiable urgency, advocate Mathur said. She further sought accommodation on the ground that Solicitor General Tushar Mehta was not available..Expressing his disappointment over the continued adjournments being sought in the case, Judge Saini said,.“It has almost been a year.. I cannot grant four weeks’ time.”.Counsel appearing for P Chidambaram and Karti – Senior Advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi with Advocates PK Dubey and Arshdeep Singh – also raised strong objections against the consecutive adjournments in the case..“Let the matter be adjourned sine die. Let the matter come when it comes or the Court may grant us bail. They have no idea of any revelation (from the letter of rogatory). Move the court against the bail as and when the information comes“, Sibal stated..Singhvi also urged the Court to “balance liberty with possible revelation“..Agreeing with the applicants, the Court remarked that it would not grant more than two weeks’ additional time..The Court finalized the next date of hearing as May 6, and Judge Saini further questioned the prosecution in the case..“What about cognizance (of chargesheet)? They (Chidambaram and son) are not a party to that yet. What about it?“.The Court then clarified that there would be no more adjournments in the case..The case pertains to the alleged irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approvals granted to the Aircel-Maxis deal at the time when P Chidambaram was Union Finance Minister..The anticipatory bail pleas, as well as the chargesheet, will be next listed for consideration before the Special Judge on May 6. Interim protection from arrest granted to the father-son duo will continue to operate till then.