Overview Karti P. Chidambaram , a Congress MP representing the Sivaganga constituency, has approached the Madras High Court to challenge the attachment of ₹90.08 lakh from two of his bank accounts. The attachment was ordered by the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) in connection with a money laundering probe initiated based on the Aircel-Maxis deal investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) . Key Developments Appeal Admission The First Division Bench of Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G. Arul Murugan admitted an appeal filed by the MP against the June 5, 2025 , order passed by the Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Act (SAFEMA) Appellate Tribunal in New Delhi. This tribunal also handles appeals under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) . Legal Proceedings The civil miscellaneous appeal, considered a second appeal, was entertained after hearing arguments from both sides. Senior counsel Vijay Narayan , assisted by advocate N.R.R. Arun Natarajan , represented the MP. ED Special Public Prosecutor N. Ramesh was permitted to take notice on behalf of the agency. The Division Bench has granted the ED three weeks to file its reply and adjourned the hearing. CBI Probe Background The court was informed that the CBI had registered the First Information Report (FIR) in the Aircel-Maxis case on October 9, 2011 , for offences under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Prevention of Corruption Act . The case relates to a 2005 deal involving Malaysia-based Maxis Deal Communications for a 100% takeover of India-based telecommunications operator Aircel Limited . Charge-sheet and Discharge A charge-sheet was filed on August 29, 2014 , against former Union Telecommunication Minister Dayanidhi Maran , his elder brother and Sun TV Network head Kalanithi Maran , and others. However, on February 2, 2017 , a special court in New Delhi discharged the Maran brothers and two others from the CBI’s case and the consequent PMLA case registered by the ED on February 7, 2012 . Appeals and Further Investigation Both the CBI and ED challenged the discharge by filing criminal revision petitions before the Delhi High Court , which refused to stay the discharge order on May 19, 2017 . The ED appealed to the Supreme Court on July 18, 2017 , where the proceedings are still pending. The ED's investigation revealed the involvement of individuals not named in the CBI’s charge-sheet. Attachment Order Details The ED passed a provisional attachment order on September 23, 2017 , attaching ₹90.08 lakh from two bank accounts of Mr. Karti Chidambaram and another ₹26 lakh from the bank account of Advantage Strategic Consulting Private Limited . The provisional order was confirmed by the Adjudicating Authority under the PMLA on March 12, 2018 , after a hearing. Chidambaram's Challenge Mr. Karti Chidambaram challenged the confirmation order before the SAFEMA Appellate Tribunal , arguing that he was not named in the CBI’s charge-sheet and that the ED had not completed its probe and filed a prosecution complaint against him when the provisional attachment order was passed. He noted that the prosecution complaint against him was filed only on June 13, 2019 . Tribunal's Decision The SAFEMA Appellate Tribunal concluded that the ED was entitled to attach properties of individuals even during the course of investigation, even if they had not been named in the predicate offence. This conclusion was based on the Supreme Court’s 2022 judgment in Vijay Madanlal Choudhary’s case , considered an authority on PMLA. This decision led to the current appeal before the Madras High Court . UPSC Relevance This case is relevant to GS2 (Polity and Governance) and GS3 (Economy) . It highlights the powers and functions of investigative agencies like the ED and CBI, the application of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), and the judicial processes involved in handling financial crime cases. Understanding the Aircel-Maxis deal and the legal proceedings surrounding it provides insights into issues of corruption, governance, and economic regulation. Important Facts Karti P. Chidambaram challenged the attachment of ₹90.08 lakh by the ED . The attachment is related to a money laundering probe based on the Aircel-Maxis deal . The Madras High Court admitted an appeal against a SAFEMA Appellate Tribunal order. The CBI registered an FIR in the Aircel-Maxis case on October 9, 2011 . A charge-sheet was filed against Dayanidhi Maran , Kalanithi Maran , and others on August 29, 2014 . A special court discharged the Maran brothers on February 2, 2017 . The ED passed a provisional attachment order on September 23, 2017 . The SAFEMA Appellate Tribunal upheld the ED's attachment order based on the Vijay Madanlal Choudhary case .