INX Media Case Live Updates: Chidambaram challenges CBI remand in Supreme Court

Former Union minister P Chidambaram's ordeal has been prolonged as a special   court on Thursday sent him to a five-day CBI custody in connection with INX          Media money laundering case. He will remain in the CBI custody till August 26.

Chidambaram’s legal team is now planning to fight another legal battle on Friday to get protection against arrest in ED cases.

The Supreme Court bench of Justice R Banumathi and Justice AS Bopanna will hear Chidambaram’s plea filed against the Delhi High Court’s order rejecting his anticipatory bail plea in CBI and ED cases.

This is the case related to INX Media, in which matter is listed for hearing on August 27. The anticipatory bail plea was listed in CBI case on Friday but matter turned infructuous as CBI arrested him on Wednesday night from his residence.

Here are the Live Updates:

3:10 pm: SC grants interim protection to Chidambaram in ED case, lists matter for August 26

The Supreme Court Friday granted protection from arrest to former Union finance minister P Chidambaram in the money laundering case lodged by ED and agreed to hear on August 26 the CBI and ED cases in the INX Media scam.

Chidambaram will however continue to be in the CBI custody as the apex court did not intervene in the matter for which he has been sent for custodial interrogation of the agency till Monday.

A bench comprising justices R Banumathi and A S Bopanna posted both the matters for hearing on Monday, August 26.

"Having heard the counsels for petitioner and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, we are of the view that the co-accused were granted bail in the ED case. Petitioner shall not be arrested till further hearing of the case. List the petition on Monday (August 26). The respondent (ED) shall file their reply and contentions by Monday," the bench said.

After the order was dictated, Mehta tried to hand over sealed cover documents to the court saying that the bench should satisfy its conscience before passing an order granting protection from arrest to Chidambaram.

3:08 pm: CBI to focus on all FIPB approvals given by Chidambaram

Following Enforcement Directorate's lead, the CBI's custodial interrogation of former Union Minister P. Chidambaram is expanding from INX Media to other firms which were given Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearances by the Congress leader during his tenure as the Finance Minister in the UPA government.

After a special court on Thursday sent Chidambaram to four-day CBI custody till August 26, the probe agency is now specifically focusing on all FIPB and FDI clearances given by Chidambaram, said a source, adding, "However, it is very difficult to crack him".

On Day 2 of Chidambaram's interrogation following his arrest on Wednesday night, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is enlarging its scope of investigation from INX Media to Aircel-Maxis and four more business deals, suspecting his role in granting alleged illegal FIPB clearances and receiving multi-crore kickbacks through several shell firms, sources said on Friday.

The sources said the CBI is looking at Chidambaram's role in grating alleged illegal FIPB approvals to Diageo Scotland Ltd, Katara Holdings, Essar Steel Ltd and Elforge Ltd.

The FIPB, which used to function under the Union Finance Ministry, has now been scrapped.

3:06 pm: Chidambaram in CBI custody till Monday

3:04 pm: Chidambaram, Karti get protection from ED arrest till September 3

13:14 pm: Pakistan Senator Rehman Malik has condemned the arrest of Congress leader P Chidambaram and added that he was targetted by the Modi government.

12:55 pm: Both CBI and ED cases to be heard on Monday

12:54 pm: Chidambaram can't be arrested by ED till Monday, says SC

12:52 pm: Chidambaram has been evasive, he's not answered questions, says solicitor general

The solicitor general said, "It's my case that he's [Chidambaram] been evasive. He's not answered questions and unless he's under custodial interrogation, he will remain evasive."

"We do not give interim protection only because some high court had given interim protection earlier," he said.

12:49 pm: Found 10 properties, 17 bank accounts in various countries linked to Chidambaram, says ED

12:43 pm: It's a case of money laundering of a monumental magnitude, says govt lawyer

The government lawyer in court said that illegitimate money would not be deposited in my account if I'm innocent. He said that there are allegations of shell companies being created where money is transacted and laundered.

"We can show case diaries to court. It's a case of money laundering of a monumental magnitude. I am saying this with some responsibility," the lawyer said.

12:38 pm: HC judge copy pasted ED note, says Kapil Sibal defending Chidambaram

12:35 pm: Hue and cry being created about vendetta on TV debates, says solicitor general

The solicitor general said that there are a large number of petitions pending on the issue of retrospective effect of PMLA in SC. The high court judge noted that the gravity of the offence necessitated denial of bail."

He also said, "At a stage which is pre-chargesheet stage, we are limited. Hue and cry being created about vendetta on TV debates."

"The evidence is about digital documents. There were searches conducted and email communication has been recovered," he said.

12:34 pm: Solicitor general opposing anticipatory bail plea

12:32 pm: CBI has statement of Indrani Mukerjea saying that she gave money to Karti, says solicitor general

Solicitor general said, "When the matter was first argued before the media yesterday is when I came to know this is their argument."

He said, "The CBI case is that the accused as finance minister granted FIPB approval to INX media. INX media is owned by Indrani Mukerjea. CBI has recorded statement of Indrani Mukerjea saying that she gave money to Karti. That's the predicate offence. The ED is probing the money trail."

12:29 pm: What chance in hell do I have of getting bail, asks Kapil Sibal

Kapil Sibal said, "If courts are going to cut and paste allegations of the investigation agency without hearing me, what chance in hell do I have of getting bail?"

12:26 pm: Chidambaram's lawyers raise questions on Delhi HC order

Kapil Sibal said that Delhi HC says "on narration of facts" and "material collected", Rs 3 crore has come into account of ASCPL. "Where are these facts? Where is the evidence? None of the evidence is on record," he said.

12:25 pm: Kapil Sibal slams ED, says ED did not file any affidavit

12:22 pm: Issue is about personal liberty, says Kapil Sibal

12: 21 pm: SC to hear CBI custody order on Monday

12:18 pm: SC hearing plea for anticipatory bail against ED in INX media case

12:17 pm: SC bench Justice Banumathi says whether right or wrong, the custody order has been passed by a competent court.

12:16 pm: SC says it will hear CBI case on Tuesday

12:15 pm: Kapil Sibal says CBI should not have arrested P Chidambaram

12:14 pm: No question of anticipatory bail when accused is in custody, says SC

12:13 pm: Chidambaram's bail plea hearing begins in Supreme Court

12:06 pm: All this being done to divert attention from economic crisis, says Ashok Gehlot

Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot, on P Chidambaram's arrest, said, "All this is being done to divert attention from the economic crisis looming in the country. People of the country are watching. They have installed governments in the past and when the time comes, dethroned such forces."

11:20 am: If P Chidambaram does not get relief from the Supreme or the anticipatory bail petition is rejected, he will file a regular bail petition in the ED case, sources said.

11:02 am: Nalini Chidambaram inside SC, Karti also in court

P Chidambaram's wife Nalini is present inside the Supreme Court. She is sitting outside court 7 where matter is to be heard. Karti Chidambaram is also present in the court.

10:06 am: Karti Chidambaram leaves from his house

9:49 am: P Chidambaram was questioned briefly last night after being brought back to CBI headquarters

P Chidambaram was questioned briefly last night after he was brought in to the CBI headquarter from the court. The questioning was specifically in connection to FIPB approvals and the FDI.

9:48 am: Will be going to court for P Chidambaram, says son Karti

9:11 am: Economy in ICU, govt targetting those defending civil liberties, says Kapil Sibal

Targetting the Centre over slowdown in the country's economy and the arrest of former Union minister P Chidambaram, senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal on Friday said while the economy is in Intensive Care Unit (ICU), the government has issued a "look out notice" for all those defending civil liberties.

Taking to Twitter, the former Law Minister said the developments in the last few weeks have shown that both the economy and the cause of liberty need a "stimulus package".

"The economy is in ICU and government has issued a "look out notice" for all those defending civil liberties," he tweeted.

This comes a day after Sibal had expressed his discontent over Chidambaram's arrest and termed it "drama" and "political persecution".

On August 21, the Delhi High Court dismissed Chidambaram's plea for bail. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) had issued a look-out notice against him on Wednesday in the INX media case. A special anti-corruption court on Thursday sent the Congress leader to CBI custody till August 26.

9:10 am: Justice Sunil Gaur, who denied bail to Chidambaram, retires

Justice Sunil Gaur who passed the order denying anticipatory bail to former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and businessman Ratul Puri, retired on Thursday.

A full court reference was addressed to Justice Gaur who also handled the trial in sensational Shivani Bhatnagar murder case.

(IANS)

9:06: am: Chidambaram to sleep on 'takht' in Tihar once CBI custody ends

Former Finance and Home Minister P Chidambaram would be spending his next four nights in the plush CBI headquarters on Lodhi Road during the police remand, but his stay in his expected judicial custody would be rather harsh. Tentative arrangements are being chalked out at Tihar jail, once the CBI custody of the high-profile prisoner ends.

Highly placed sources in the Tihar jail said that Chidambaram, in all probability, is expected to be sent to jail once his CBI remand is done.

"We are not concerned with the period of CBI or ED custody. We are making preparations for his judicial custody, as he is expected to be lodged in Tihar, as per the jurisdiction," said a senior official of the Tihar jail, considered the biggest prison complex in Asia.

Sources said as of now, Chidambaram, if not granted bail in coming weeks, would be lodged in Jail No 7 meant for economic offenders.

(IANS)

Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi on Thursday said the Congress should not worry about the arrest of P Chidambaram if he had committed no wrong and asserted that the law will take its own course.

The CBI on Wednesday night arrested Chidambaram, senior Congress leader and former Union finance minister, in connection with alleged corruption in granting foreign investment clearances to INX Media during his tenure.

Top Congress leaders defended Chidambaram and accused the Union government of political vendetta.

8:45 am: No political vendetta in action against Chidambaram, says Chouhan

BJP vice president Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Thursday said there was no political vendetta behind the action against former Union minister P Chidambaram, who has been arrested in connection with the INX Media alleged corruption case in New Delhi.

The Congress has come down heavily on the BJP government over the arrest of Chidambaram, accusing it of using the CBI and the ED as "personal revenge-seeking departments". The former Union minister was on Thursday sent to four-day CBI custody by a Delhi court, which said his custodial interrogation was justified in the case.

"Law takes in own course. Chidambaram went to the court, but did not get relief. The Congress's act of blaming the central government is not proper as it is working without any vendetta," Chouhan told reporters.

"If someone has indulged in any wrongdoing, it should be probed. It hardly matters whether the wrongdoer is big or small," the former Madhya Pradesh chief minister said while refuting the Congress's charge that Chidambaram was a victim of political vendetta.

(PTI)

8:44 am: Chidambaram makes submissions after his request allowed by court

A request that former Union minister P Chidambaram, arrested in the INX media case, be allowed to make a brief submission was granted by a Delhi court, despite strong objection from the CBI.

Soon after arguments on custodial interrogation got over, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who was appearing for Chidambaram, sought permission from special judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar that his client be allowed to speak as he wants to throw some light on the questions being asked by the CBI during interrogation.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who was appearing for the CBI, vehemently opposed the request saying the former finance minister has a team of legal stalwarts like senior advocate Kapil Sibal and Singhvi, who have already presented their arguments, and Chidambaram doesn't need a "crutch" to argue his case.

"Generally, only one lawyer is allowed to argue. But two able lawyers have already made the submissions (on Chidambaram's behalf). If we allow him, then we should not oppose any accused to make submissions in person across the country. This will set a very wrong precedent. If he himself wants to make submissions then he should not be represented by any counsel," Mehta said.

Singhvi said there are Supreme Court judgments which say that an accused can make submissions.

(PTI)

8:38 am: Uncaged parrot is not supposed to become vulture, says Abhishek Manu Singhvi

Referring to Supreme Court's 2013 remark likening the CBI to a 'caged parrot', former finance minister P Chidambaram's lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi said an uncaged parrot should not turn into a vulture and prey on innocent people.

His comments came after a CBI court gave the CBI five-day custody of P Chidambaram, who was arrested by the investigative agency on Wednesday night in the INX Media case.