INX Media case: ED arrests P Chidambaram after 2-hr grilling at Tihar

Former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) team who had gone to Tihar jail for questioning him on Wednesday morning. He was arrested After two hours of questioning, he was arrested. As of now, the former Union Minister is inside Tihar jail. He will be taken out of the jail after the court’s order. Earlier on Wednesday, P. Chidambaram was grilled by a three-member team of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in relation to the INX Media money laundering case, before taking a final call on his arrest. His wife Nalini and son Karti Chidambaram, too reached the jail premises ahead of the interrogation process.

Special CBI judge allowed the interrogation

ED officials Mahesh Gupta, Sandeep Thapliyal, and Dainik Jain arrived at Tihar jail to interrogate the former Finance Minister. This came after a special court on Tuesday allowed the law enforcement agency to grill Chidambaram for 30 minutes in connection with the matter. Special CBI Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar had allowed the ED to interrogate the Congress leader and arrest him if deemed necessary. The Court had directed Tihar jail authorities to make necessary arrangements and provide the required security to question the former Home Minister in the prison. The special judge gave the directions based on a plea filed by the ED seeking permission to arrest the senior Congress leader in the case.

READ | INX Media case: 3 member ED team reaches Tihar to grill P Chidambaram

The court dismissed the application by Chidambaram's lawyer

Meanwhile, the court also dismissed the application moved by the lawyer of Chidambaram challenging the court's earlier order of the production of the senior Congress leader. In his application, Chidambaram had stated that a warrant issued on Friday for seeking his production for arrest and remand for investigation was illegal and contrary to the rules.

READ | Amit Shah on Chidambaram: 'Had it been Vendetta, he'd have got bail'

Chidambaram arrested on August 22

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 ED 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.

READ | ED gets judicial interrogation of Chidambaram, likely arrest tomorrow

READ | Chidambaram seeks bail, says CBI wants to retain him to humiliate him

(With ANI inputs)