Former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram challenges Delhi High Court’s decision by approaching the apex judicial authority on Thursday. P Chidambaram was found guilty in the INX Media corruption case. And now requests for bail in Supreme Court. P Chidambaram is under the custody of CBI since August 21.
Kapil Sibbal, the representing advocate mentions the urgency of the bail for P Chidambaram and requests to permit their appeal. The request came when the trial court extended the judicial custody of P Chidambaram till the 17th of October.
On Monday, the High Court of Delhi rejected his plea for bail, stating that the investigation was at an advanced stage and his influencing the witnesses cannot be ruled out.
The fact that P Chidambaram has been a strong finance minister and home minister and is a present MP cannot be denied. Considering his plea in High Court, the judge remarked that the petitioner is not of high risk, but the situation needs to be secured by putting on restrictions on the accused.
The petitioner in its defense states that “at no point in time, whether prior to the lodging of the FIR dated May 15, 2017, or thereafter, has he approached or influenced any of the alleged material witnesses or even attempted to do so, directly or indirectly”.
In the earlier bail order of the High Court, they stated that the discrepancies created by the INX Media case cannot be left alone. And further, the extension of judicial custody is also justified by the High Court.
The company owning to INX Media case was not allowed to bring in more than 4.62 crores of FDI, instead, they brought FDI of 403 crores. They didn’t follow the FIPB guidelines. The incident was taken by the former Finance Minister P Chidambaram, in lieu of business benefits to his Son Karti, he managed to overlook the illegal activities happening in the company.
Earlier also, on May 15, 2017, there was an FIR registered with CBI alleging irregularities in the FIPB clearance granted to the INX Media group for receiving FDI of more than Rs 305 crore in 2007. At that time P Chidambaram was the Union Finance Minister. Several complaints regarding money laundering were also lodged against the company.
Now the matter is with the Supreme Court and it is stated that the plea will be sent to the CJI Ranjan Gogoi, and it will be on his discretion, whether to grant bail or not.