New Delhi, July 19: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has listed former union finance minister P Chidambaram as an accused in the Aircel-Maxis case. The Congress' veteran's name was included in fresh charge sheet filed by the probing agency on Thursday.

Along with Chidambaram, the names of 17 other accused, including his son Karti Chidambaram has been included. The charge sheet has been filed in Delhi's Patiala House Court, which will take cognizance of the same on July 31.

While Karti had already been charged in the case by the central agency, Chidambaram's inclusion among the accused came in the backdrop of the CBI interrogating him over the past couple of months. Other accused in the case include officials of the erstwhile Finance Ministry.

The Aircel-Maxis scam dates back to 2006, when Chidambaram was heading the Finance Ministry under the UPA-I government. Aircel, an Indian telecom service provider, was taken over by Maxis Berhad, a Malaysia-based communications firm.

The CBI probe claims Karti used his "influence" in the Finance Ministry to ensure Maxis gets clearance from the Foreign Investment Promotion Board for acquiring up to 74 per cent stakes in Aircel. In lieu, the agency claims, Karti received kickbacks via his offshore firms.

Congress spokesperson Sanjay Jha said the inclusion of Chidambaram in the chargesheet is not on the basis of facts. "The government has launched a witch hunt. They are practicing the worst form of vendetta politics," he alleged.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 19, 2018 04:53 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).