The Patiala House Court in Delhi on Tuesday extended till August 7 the interim protection from arrest granted to former Union minister P Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram in the Aircel-Maxis money laundering case, ANI reported.

Last month, the court granted P Chidambaram protection from arrest till July 10 after the Enforcement Directorate sought time to file a detailed reply in the case.

On June 5, the agency recorded the Congress leader’s statement under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. Chidambaram claimed that he was being investigated even though a First Information Report had not been registered against him.

Later in the month, an Enforcement Directorate officer investigating the case moved the Supreme Court claiming “vested interests” were trying to derail the inquiry.

The case pertains to clearances the Foreign Investment Promotion Board granted to the firm M/S Global Communication Holding Services Ltd for investment in Aircel in 2006. P Chidambaram was the finance minister at the time.

Karti Chidambaram, who is also under investigation, allegedly facilitated bribes in the Aircel-Maxis transaction. The investigative agency is looking into “the circumstances” in which P Chidambaram, in his capacity as finance minister, approved the investment.