SC will hear Chidambaram's plea against arrest on Monday
The Supreme Court will hear the plea of former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram challenging his arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation in connection to the INX Media case on Monday, August 26. On Thursday, Chidambaram was sent to CBI custody till August 26 by a special court. The agency argued his custody is important for interrogation and alleged Chidambaram hasn't been cooperative.
To recall, on Tuesday, Chidambaram's plea seeking anticipatory bail was rejected by the Delhi High Court. The court had called him a "kingpin" in the corruption case, being probed by both CBI and ED. Subsequently, he approached the top court, which listed the matter for Friday. Cashing in on the time which SC gave, CBI arrested Chidambaram from his residence after a high-voltage drama.
The bench comprising Justices R Banumathi and AS Bopanna also heard Chidambaram's plea seeking protection from arrest by ED. The top court agreed to take up this matter too on Monday. In court, senior lawyer Kapil Sibal, arguing for Chidambaram, said the latter's fundamental right to justice was "frustrated" after SC didn't hear his petition challenging Delhi HC's verdict.
Sibal then went on to say that after arguments were over in Delhi HC, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta handed over a note to Justice Sunil Gaur and they didn't get a chance to reply on that. Responding to Sibal, Mehta said, "Don't make false statements, I didn't give it after the arguments were over." However, the Congress leader remained firm on his stand.
About the probe, Mehta revealed, "There are evidences in the form of digital documents, email exchanges. Corruption money has traveled through money laundering. He had at least 10 properties and 17 bank accounts abroad, what we have found so far."
To note, Chidambaram is being probed for his alleged involvement in the INX Media case, which concerns illegal foreign funds that the media company received when he was the FM in UPA era. His son Karti, a Congress MP from Sivaganga, is accused of receiving kickbacks for helping Peter and Indrani Mukerjea secure FDI. Interestingly, Indrani has turned approver in the case.
