New Delhi: A special court granted anticipatory bail to former union minister P. Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram in cases registered by both the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the Aircel-Maxis matter.

The senior Congress leader is already in CBI custody in connection with INX media case.

Special Judge O P Saini granted relief to the father-son duo and directed them to join the probe in the cases.

The court said that in event of arrest, they be released on a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh and one surety of like amount. The court also directed the accused  to join the investigation.

The Aircel Maxis case pertains to alleged irregularities while granting of FIPB approval in the Aircel-Maxis deal. The father-son are suspect in this case as well.

Both the CBI and ED are probing the case from different angles.

The CBI is examining how Chidambaram, while he was Finance Minister in 2006, granted FIPB approval to a foreign firm, while the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) was only allowed or empowered to do it.

The Enforcement Directorate is probing money laundering in the Aircel-Maxis case. In the case, the Chidambarams have been grilled by the agency. Their anticipatory bail is pending.

The Aircel-Maxis deal is worth Rs 3,500 crore.