In a setback to former Union minister P Chidambaram, Supreme Court on Thursday refused to grant him pre-arrest bail in INX Media money laundering case lodged by Enforcement Directorate. top court dismissed Chidambaram's plea challenging Delhi High Court verdict denying him anticipatory bail in case, saying ecomic offence has to be dealt with differently as it affects ecomy of country. A bench of Justices R Banumathi and A S Bopanna said it is t a fit case to grant anticipatory bail. grant of anticipatory bail to Chidambaram at this st will hamper investigation, it said.

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Probing ncy must be given freedom to do its job: SC

Congress leader's 15-day CBI custody, ordered by special court in five spells, which started after his arrest on August 21 night, comes to an end today and he will be produced before trial court. investigating ncy has to be given sufficient freedom to conduct probe into case, apex court said. It also rejected Chidambaram's application for direction to ED to produce transcripts of his questioning conducted by ncy on three dates. top court said it has power to peruse case diary even before commencement of trial and added that it has refrained from perusing documents placed before it by ED in a sealed cover as it may prejudice or accused.

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Chidambaram allowed to approach lower court for regular bail

anticipatory bail is t a matter of right and refusing relief is t violation of Article 21, it said. apex court, however, said Chidambaram can approach court concerned for grant of regular bail in case. CBI had lodged an FIR on May 15, 2017, alleging irregularities in FIPB clearance granted to INX Media group for receiving overseas funds of Rs 305 crore in 2007 during Chidambaram's tenure as finance minister. reafter, ED lodged a money laundering case in 2017.

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Delhi Court's decision on Chidambaram's bail plea

Delhi High Court had on August 20, rejected anticipatory bail pleas of Chidambaram in INX media scam cases lodged by CBI and ED. high court held that he was "prima facie kingpin" in INX Media corruption and money laundering cases and "simply because he is a Member of Parliament would t justify grant of pre arrest bail to him". Holding that former Union minister's custodial interrogation was required for an effective investigation, high court had said, "granting bail in cases like instant one will send a wrong mess to society". 

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