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Published 13:36 IST, September 16th 2019

Chidambaram feeling '74-yrs young' as he celebrates birthday in Tihar

As former finance minister P Chidambaram turned 74 in the judicial custody at Tihar Jail in New Delhi, he said that export growth shows status of economy

Reported by: Navashree Nandini
null | Image: self

As former finance minister P Chidambaram turned 74 in the judicial custody at Tihar Jail in New Delhi, where he is lodged in connection with the CBI's INX-Media case, he has sent a message through his family members. Tweeting his message the former finance minister Chidambaram said that he feels 74 years younger on his birthday and is concerned about the country's economy. He thanked everybody and said his spirits had lifted higher. "I have asked my family to tweet on my behalf the following: "My family have brought me greetings from friends, party colleagues and well-wishers. I am reminded that I am 74 years old. Indeed I am, but at heart I feel 74 years young. Thank you all, my spirits have been lifted higher," he said on Twitter. He also added that he prays to God to bless the country.

READ | Karti Chidambaram pens letter to dad on birthday, takes dig at Centre

Karti's letter to Chidambaram

As Chidambaram turned 74 on Monday, his son Karti Chidambaram wrote a letter to his father detailing what he has missed since he was put in judicial custody on September 5. In the letter, he highlighted that turning '74 is nothing compared to turning 100 days old', taking a dig at the BJP government recently released a 100-day progress report. He goes on to call the moment where PM Modi offered solace to ISRO chief K Sivan - a drama and also takes a dig at Union Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Piyush Goyal's comments on the Indian economy. His party colleague Jairam Ramesh said Chidambaram is going through an "agnipariksha" and will come out of it vindicated. "Today PC turns 74. It is an agnipariksha he is going through but he will come out of it vindicated. I have worked very closely with him since 1986 and it has been a great privilege and education doing so. My thoughts are with him," he tweeted. 

READ | Chidambaram to remain in Tihar as Delhi Court rejects surrender plea

SC dismisses Chidambaram's plea to surrender 

Meanwhile, on Friday, a Delhi Court dismissed a plea by former Finance Minister P Chidambaram seeking to surrender to the ED in the money laundering case of INX Media, thus ensuring his continued judicial custody in Tihar Jail. The Enforcement Directorate had on Thursday told the court that Chidambaram's arrest was necessary in the INX Media money laundering case and it will do so at an appropriate time. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for ED said that after arresting Chidambaram, they would like to confront him with the evidence which has been gathered. On September 5, Chidambaram was remanded to 14-day judicial custody in the corruption case by the CBI till September 19.

READ | INX Media: Trouble For Chidambaram As CBI To File Chargesheet In Case

READ | Chidambaram's first tweet since being sent to Tihar questions agencies

Updated 13:58 IST, September 16th 2019

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