'Chidambaram's arrest depressing', says West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday has said the arrest of former Finance Minister Chidambaram was "depressing" and alleged that the judiciary was not coming to the help of a "crying" democratic system, according to PTI. Quoting Rabindranath Tagore Banerjee said that the 'message of justice is crying silently in isolation'. This was in reference to the manner in which Chidambaram was detained by CBI on Wednesday night. She also alleged that media outlets have become spokespersons of the ruling BJP.

 "P Chidambaram is an economist, and a former home minister and finance minister. The manner in which he has been arrested is depressing. There are four pillars of democracy: democratic institutions, Election Commission, media and judicial system. The democratic system of our country is crying, yet the judiciary is not coming to its aid," said Banerjee in a statement issued by the Trinamool Congress in Kolkata, according to PTI. 

Chidambaram Arrested, Here's What CBI's Next Move Could Be

Chidambaram's dramatic arrest

Earlier on Wednesday, after being untraceable for almost 27 hours, the Congress senior leader P. Chidambaram made a surprise arrival at the AICC head office to address a press brief. Following which he reached his residence, wherein the CBI and ED officials were present to question the Parliamentarian. However, they were blocked by the Congress leader to enter his house. They were then forced to scale walls to detain Chidambaram.

The former Home Minister was apprehended for custodial interrogation in the INX media cases at the headquarters. Chidambaram spent the night at the Suit 5 of the CBI headquarters. He was then taken to the Economic Offences Unit where his formal questioning was scheduled to begin. However, the questioning would be conducted only post 10 AM on Thursday by the investigation team led by Parthasarathy, Dy SP. 

Chidambaram Arrested, Inside Details Of His Night At CBI HQ Accessed

Current case updates

Currently, Chidambaram has been produced at Special CBI Court, Rouse Avenue around 2:15 PM post his interrogation. As per sources, the CBI is likely to bring Chidambaram face to face with Indrani Mukerjea who has turned approver in the INX media case. The grounds for remand of the senior Congress leader are that the former Finance Minister is non-cooperative during questioning and has denied ever meeting with Indrani and Peter Mukerjea. CBI claims that new facts have emerged since his questioning by CBI in June 2018, as per sources.