Delhi:
Troubles seem to be mounting for former Union Minister and Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram as he got no relief from the Supreme Court in connection with the anticipatory bail plea in INX media case today. While hearing the plea, Justice NV Ramana sent the file of Chidambaram’s plea seeking interim bail before Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi to pass the order. Justice Ramana referring the case to CJI means that there is no shield for Chidambaram from the imminent arrest. In his anticipatory bail plea, Chidambaram has maintained that he, “isn't a flight risk, haven't been accused of influencing witnesses of tampering with the evidence.”
On Tuesday, hours after the Delhi High Court refused former Union finance minister P Chidambaram to grant any protection from arrest in the INX Media case, the a six-member CBI team issued a notice to him asking him to appear before the investigation officer "within two hours", after failing to find him at his residence. Soon after the CBI team returned empty hand, an Enforcement Directorate team also reached his Jor Bagh residence in Delhi.
Also Read: Setback for P Chidambaram, Delhi High Court rejects anticipatory bail plea in INX Media case
The CBI had registered an FIR on May 15, 2017, alleging irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance granted to the media group for receiving overseas funds of Rs 305 crore in 2007 during Chidambaram's tenure as finance minister. Thereafter, the ED lodged a money laundering case in this regard in 2018.
Prior to this development, the top court had allowed P Chidambaram’s son Karti Chidambaram to travel to the United States, Spain and Germany in May and June. He is also facing the trial in the INX Media money laundering case. A Bench headed by the Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi had asked Karti Chidambaram to deposit a security deposit of Rs 10 crore. Karti has been questioned on several occasions in the case being probed by the ED as well as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The agencies are probing how Karti managed to get clearance to the tune of Rs 305 crore from the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) in 2007 when his father was the finance minister.
Also Read: INX Media Case: CBI, ED knock on Chidambaram's door, ex-Finance Minister not at home
The agency had registered the FIR against Karti, his company Chess Management Services, Peter Mukerjea and Indrani Mukerjea, INX Media, Advantage Strategic Consulting Services and its Director Padma Vishwanathan.
Both CBI and the Enforcement Directorate are investigating the foreign investment clearance granted to the Aircel-Maxis deal in 2006 and the INX Media in 2007 when Chidambaram was the finance minister in the UPA government. The government has already given sanction to prosecute him in Aircel Maxis case.
