Delhi’s Patiala House court today on 23 July 2018 extended the interim protection given to P. Chidambaram in nexus to INX Media case till 7 August 2018. The court said no intimidating action against P. Chidambaram shall be executed. Earlier in the month, he was granted protection against any arrest by ED (Enforcement Directorate) and CBI till 10 July 2018. The court also granted Karti Chidambaram to travel abroad for business purposes from 23 July to 31 July 2018.
In the INX Media case, the court gave interim protection to P. Chidambaram till 1 August 2018, which is now extended to 7 August 2018 by the Patiala House Court Earlier, in the Aircel Maxis case, came out of 2G spectrum cases, irregularities have been found pertaining to clearance granted by FIPB (Foreign Investment Promotion Board) to firm M/s Global Communication Holding Services Ltd. for investment in Aircel.
Chidambaram’s role came under the investigation agency (ED and CBI) in the Aircel Maxis Deal of 3500 Crores and INX media case involving 305 crores. It was during his term in office as Finance Minister FIPB clearance was given in these two ventures. Clearance being given in 2006, it was beyond the authority of P. Chidambaram which was only up to Rs. 600 Crores.
In INX case, the CBI had registered an FIR last year against the alleged non-uniformity in the FIPB clearance to INX media for receiving funds from foreign in 2007 when P. Chidambaram was the Finance Minister. CBI presses for the former Union Minister’s custodial interrogation, alleging it was necessary as he has remained evasive and non-cooperative during questioning
A plea for anticipatory bail of P. Chidambaram the former union minister was filed to the Delhi high court in respect to the money laundering case related to INX Media. The plea was submitted by Adv. Pramod Kumar Dubey and Arshdeep Singh said that although no summons have been issued by the ED, P. Chidambaram has an apprehension of arrest by the CBI. P. Chidambaram in his plea has said that the present case is mala fide and is only made with a political point of view to disrupt this respect, that the alleged agency is acting on the behalf of the central government to perish his reputation.
The agency has sought time to submit its response on Mr Chidambaram’s anticipatory bail plea. The agency said that in its response that P. Chidambaram is not co-operative and evasive. CBI said that “The material collected so far and the gravity of the offence which is to unfold requires custodial interrogation’’
The Delhi high court would hear the plea of anticipatory bail of the former union minister P. Chidambaram in the INX Media Case
Justice AK Pathak did not hold the court in post-lunch session; plea will be heard on 24 July 2018.
