Fresh uproar in RS over Aircel-Maxis row

Chidambaram denies his family members' connection with any Telecom company

PTI | May 14, 2012



The Aircel-Maxis row on Monday led to fresh uproar in Rajya Sabha with the Opposition targetting with fresh allegations the son of Home Minister P Chidambaram, who denied any wrongdoing and said the company in question 'Advantage Consulting' could be probed by Finance Ministry.

Linking the controversial FIPB clearance to Aircel-Maxis with business transactions of Ausbridge, a company earlier owned by Chidambaram's son, Leader of Opposition Arun Jaitley said the e-mail and web address of Ausbridge Holdings and Investments and Advantage Strategic Consulting, that had a shareholding in Aircel Maxis, were the same in 2006.

Chidamabram insisted that "no member of my family or I have any equity at any time indirectly or directly or have any investment in any Telecom company...We have no connection with any Telecom company or have any share in any telecom company."

At the same time, he downplayed the fresh charges that the e-mail and website address of Ausbridge and Advantage were the same in 2006, saying, "If they have the same website address, I am not aware...Even if they had a same website address, what is the relevance of that."

Chidambaram, who was the Finance Minister in 2006, said "Nobody is saying that promoters of Advantage and Ausbridge do not know each other. Both are in Chennai and doing business ....young people are entitled to start legitimate businesses."

As the Opposition refused to accept his argument that the money transaction between the two companies was related to some consultancy service, Chidambaram said, "If you want to look into the book of account of Advantage consulting,...I will certainly convey to the Finance Minister...if you want to examine the transactions... I will be the happiest person ... let Finance Ministry look into accounts of Advantage."

The Opposition was not convinced at his reply and disrupted the House again when it met after lunch, leading to two adjournments.

Comments

 

Other News

Who checks the books?

I read about the news about the Coimbatore library over coffee this morning. On the face of it, the headline was about a political ‘war’ between the DMK and TVK. But what stayed with me was something much more important than the blame game behind what had transpired. A writer walking through

Development paradox: Falling poverty miracle and an inequality problem

India’s reduction in poverty over the past decade is a development achievement of considerable significance. The World Bank’s April 2026 ‘India Development Update’ estimates that the share of Indians living below the international extreme-poverty line of $3.00 per person per day i

In Arunachal, a river we call mother

In Arunachal Pradesh, the Siang is not just a river. For many of us, especially the Adi people, it is part of our family. Our grandparents fished in it. Children learned to swim in it. Our farms drink from it. When someone says a huge dam will be built on it, we do not hear the word "project".

A new retelling of the Mahabharata delves into key moments

In a time when every decision carries consequences and questions of ambition, power, loyalty, identity and moral choice continue to shape our lives, Dr. Arun Krishnan’s new book, ‘Mahakshana’ (Penguin India) offers a strikingly relevant retelling of the Mahabharata.  

Cabinet approves viability gap funding to develop grid-scale energy storage systems

The Union Cabinet, chaired by PM Narendra Modi, has approved the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) Scheme for Development of Grid-Scale Energy Storage Systems, with a total financial support of Rs.14,500 crore for the period FY 2026-27 to FY 2030-31. The scheme aims to support the development o

Cabinet creates a pathway to absorb Agniveers in Defence Forces

An objective assessment in terms of organisational requirements and operational efficiency has brought out the outstanding performance of Agniveers in terms of skills, motivation levels, physical fitness and technological prowess. As envisaged earlier, based on merit, 25% of Agniveers will be offered reg

Upcoming Conferences



-->

Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter