Important day for Chidambaram, SC to pronounce verdict on pleas
P Chidambaram, the former Finance Minister, who has been in CBI custody has an important day today, as courts will pronounce verdict on a bunch of his pleas. The Supreme Court is scheduled to give its verdict on his plea challenging the Delhi High Court's order to deny him anticipatory bail in INX Media case lodged by ED. Here are more details.
The Congress stalwart was arrested by CBI officials on August 21, in a dramatic fashion, just a day after Delhi HC didn't give him anticipatory bail. Chidambaram is accused of facilitating illicit FDI into INX Media, as the FM of the nation. His son Karti, also an accused in the case, allegedly received kickbacks. His custody was extended numerous times, and it ends today.
With one of its tallest leaders in custody, the legal minds of Congress- Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi, got to work. Apart from verdict on plea challenging Delhi HC's orders, the apex court could also give its decision on Chidambaram's plea challenging the non-bailable warrant issued against him, as well as the trial court's remand orders for custodial interrogation in CBI's case.
Chidambaram's case is being heard by a bench including Justices R Banumathi and AS Bopanna. On August 29, while reserving order in the case registered by ED, the bench said it will decide on whether or not to have a look at the documents submitted by the agency. In case, SC doesn't go through the documents, they will be returned as it is.
Separately, a trial court will also pronounce verdict on anticipatory bail plea moved by Chidambaram in cases registered by CBI and the ED in the Aircel-Maxis deal scam. If he gets relief from courts, Chidambaram will be out on bail.
It's pertinent to note that Chidambaram's custody was extended on Tuesday, September 3, despite the agency saying it is done with the interrogation. This was done on request of Singhvi and Sibal who promised the court they wouldn't appeal for bail till today. By accepting their demands, the SC saved Chidambaram from being sent to the infamous Tihar jail, Asia's largest prison facility.
On his last trip to court, Chidambaram took a jibe at the Centre, run by BJP. When a reporter asked the former FM about his time in custody, Chidambaram raised his hand to show five fingers and quipped "5%". Subsequently, when he was questioned what is "5%", Chidambaram said, "What is 5 percent, you don't remember 5 percent". Someone then prompted it's the GDP (growth)!
