Published 15:42 IST, September 30th 2019
Chidambaram's bail plea in INX Media case rejected by Delhi High Court
In yet another shock to the former finance minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram, the Delhi High Court on Monday has denied him bail in the INX media case
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In yet another shock to the former finance minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram, the Delhi High Court on Monday has denied him bail, on grounds of the probe agency's arguments. The High Court highlighted the probe agency's argument that Chidambaram might influence the investigation if he is out of jail. The court has also said that it cannot be ruled out that Chidambaram might influence witnesses of the case. The court was looking into three-pointers, namely, if Chidambaram was trying to flee, if he was tampering with evidence and if he can influence witnesses. On the first two, the Court said that there is 'no evidence on record that Chidambaram tried to flee'. On the second, the court observed that the 'documents relating to the present case are with the prosecuting agency. The petitioner is not in power except that he’s a member of parliament. No chance of Chidambaram tampering with the evidence.' Chidambaram will now continue to be in Tihar Jail.
Chidambaram claims that no allegations against him
Arguing for former Finance Minister P Chidambaram's bail plea in the INX media case in the Delhi High Court, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, on Monday, stated that there were no allegations against the former Union Minister in the case and that he was not named in the FIR. He went on to state that Chidambaram had been only called in once for interrogation in 2018 before his anticipatory bail was dismissed. The Delhi High Court had dismissed his bail plea on August 20 calling him the "kingpin" in the INX Media case. Immediately after this development, he was arrested by the CBI on August 22 from his Delhi residence.
"I am not named as an accused in the FIR. No allegations have been made against me. On August 20 my anticipatory bail was dismissed. At midnight on August 20, they (CBI) affixed a notice outside my residence asking me to appear within 2 hours for interrogation," said Sibal, representing Chidambaram.
The INX Media case and Chidambaram
The CBI had registered an FIR on May 15, 2017, alleging irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance granted to the INX Media group for receiving overseas funds of Rs 305 crore in 2007 during Chidambaram's tenure as the Finance Minister. Thereafter, the Enforcement Directorate had lodged a money laundering case in this regard in 2017. Chidambaram was first arrested by the CBI in connection with the INX Media case on August 22 from his New Delhi residence. He is currently been held in judicial custody in Tihar Jail after a Delhi Court dismissed his plea seeking to surrender to the ED in the money laundering case of INX Media. Both agencies are still probing Chidambaram in the case.
15:13 IST, September 30th 2019