New Delhi:
A Delhi court rejected the plea by former Union minister P Chidambaram, lodged in Tihar jail in the INX Media case, seeking to surrender to the Enforcement Directorate in the money laundering case. The court has reserved its order on Chidambaram's application on Thursday. This means Chidambaram will have to spend his birthday (September 16) in Tihar.
On Thursday, special judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar was informed by the Enforcement Directorate that Chidambaram's arrest in the INX Media money laundering case is necessary but it will be done at an appropriate time.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had told the court that Chidambaram (73) is already in judicial custody in the CBI's corruption case and not in a position to tamper with the evidence.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Chidambaram, had contended that the ED's submission is mala fide and intended to make him suffer. He also told the court that Chidambaram can surrender whenever he wants to as it's his right.
Sibal said ED had come to Chidambaram's house to arrest him on August 20 and 21 but now they do not want to do so just to ensure that he remains in judicial custody.
On September 5, Chidambaram was remanded to 14-day judicial custody in the corruption case till September 19.
On the same day, the court had issued a notice to the ED on Chidambaram's plea seeking to surrender in the money laundering case lodged by the agency in which the Supreme Court had dismissed his plea against the August 20 order of the Delhi High Court denying him pre-arrest bail.
After his arrest by the CBI on August 21, he was sent to 15-day CBI custody, ordered by the special court in five spells.
(With PTI Inputs)
