In a dramatic turn of events Wednesday night, CBI personnel scaled the boundary walls of the New Delhi residence of senior Congress leader and former Union Minister P Chidambaram and arrested him, in full media glare, in connection with its probe into alleged charges of corruption in the INX Media case.
A team of the Enforcement Directorate, probing alleged money laundering charges, also showed up at Chidambaram’s Jor Bagh residence who was taken away in a CBI vehicle at 9.45 pm. Congress leaders and lawyers Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi were with Chidambaram when he was placed under arrest. The former minister, also a member of the Congress Working Committee, was taken into custody soon after he addressed a press conference at the AICC headquarters on Akbar Road where he claimed innocence.
Flanked by the top leadership of the Congress, he said neither he nor any member of his family had been made an accused in the INX Media case. He said no chargesheet had been filed in the case and the FIR by the CBI did not impute “any wrongdoing” by him. He said he will respect the law even if it is applied with an “unequal hand” by the investigating agencies.
"In the INX Media case, I have not been accused of any offence. Nor is anyone else including any member of my family been accused of any offence. In fact, there is no chargesheet filed by either the CBI or the ED before a competent court. Moreover, the FIR recorded by the CBI does not impute to me any wrongdoing," Chidambaram said.
The CBI had registered an FIR on May 15, 2017, alleging irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board clearance granted to the INX media group for receiving overseas funds of Rs 305 crore in 2007 during Chidambaram's tenure as finance minister. Thereafter, the Enforcement Directorate lodged a money laundering case in this regard in 2018. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court has listed Chidambaram's petition on Friday without giving him any interim relief in the matter.
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.
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Clad in a white 'mundu' paired with a full-sleeve white shirt, Chidambaram told the court that on June 6, 2018, when he was called by the agency for questioning for the first time and he had answered all the questions put before him.
"On June 6, 2018, please ask for the transcript.. there is no question which has not been answered. The allegation of USD 5 million whatever was never put before me. Only question. They only asked if I had a foreign (bank) account, I said no. I was then asked if my son had (foreign bank account) to which I said yes 'My son has with the RBI's permission'," he told the court. Soon after his submission was over, the court reserved its order and the judge left the court room.
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram was arrested as he was not cooperating with the investigating agencies, Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy said on Thursday. "There is evidence..," he told PTI.
Reddy said it was the court which will try the case, not the government and law will take its own course. "He was arrested as he was not cooperating with the investigating agencies. He should have cooperated. There is proof and evidence against (him) as to who took
money from whom and through which bank... total records are there..," he said.
Heaping praise on senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who defended Congress leader P Chidambaram in court today, his son Karti said, "It is a privilege to hear Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi in court. Master class. They should video record all court proceedings. Will be most useful to all students of law, particularly those interested in court craft."
A Supreme Court bench comprising Justices R Banumathi and AS Bopanna will hear former finance minister P Chidambaram’s petition challenging the Delhi High Court verdict denying anticipatory bail in two cases of alleged corruption and money laundering linked to INX Media. Both the cases, being pursued by CBI and ED, will come up for hearing tomorrow. Read more here
The CBI has expanded the probe against former finance minister P Chidambaram, bringing under its ambit foreign investment clearances given to companies other than INX media during his tenure, officials said Thursday.
The CBI suspects that Chidamabaram and his son Karti also received kickbacks from other companies to facilitate foreign investment clearances through the FIPB route which necessitates the former minister's custodial interrogation, they said. Both Chidambaram and Karti have strongly denied allegations of corruption levelled by the CBI.
The agency in its FIR related to INX media case has alleged that Karti Chidambaram helped the company by using his influence in the ministry to get clearance for FDI investment worth Rs 305 crore and for it companies linked to him received payments under the garb of consultancy services. The FIR has not mentioned whether Chidambaram himself received any payments for granting FDI clearances. (PTI)
Sending Chidambaram to CBI custody till August 26, a special court Thursday said that "trail of money, if so paid, is to be ascertained."
"It is a case based on documentary evidence and those documents need to be traced."
Sending former union minister P Chidambaram to CBI custody till August 26 in the INX Media case, a special Delhi court observed "investigation needs to be brought to a logical end for which custodial interrogation is sometimes found useful and fruitful."
Sending Chidambaram to CBI custody till August 26, a special court Thursday said allegations against the former minister are serious in nature and in-depth investigation is required.
"Allegations of payment to Chidambaram in 2007-08 and 2008-09 are specific and categorical," the court observed.
Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel on P Chidambaram's arrest: "P Chidamabaram was constantly criticising the policies of the central government and was pointing out their failures. The government is not able to face the criticism and so they want to suppress the opposing voices." (ANI)
Former union minister P Chidambaram is being taken out of the courtroom by the CBI after the court granted a five-day remand of the Congress leader in connection with the INX Media case.
(Express Photo by Tashi Tobgyal)
A Delhi Special Court remanded former Union Minister P Chidambaram to CBI custody till August 26 in connection with its probe into alleged charges of corruption in the INX Media case. The special judge said that Chidambaram will be allowed to meet his family everyday and shall also be medically examined from time to time.
Chidambaram was produced before Special Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar. Chidambaram’s advocates, Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi, opposed the CBI plea on the ground that all the other accused, including his son Karti, have already been granted bail in the case.
Here’s how arguments unfolded between the two sides
The NCP on Thursday slammed the "political vendetta" behind the CBI and ED's actions against senior Congress leader P Chidambaram and MNS chief Raj Thackeray, respectively.
NCP chief spokesperson Nawab Malik alleged it was the Modi government's "model" of "misusing" probe agencies to harass opposition leaders who speak up against it and added people will see through the developments.
Hitting out at the BJP government over Enforcement Directorate's (ED) summons to Thackeray, NCP leader Dhananjay Munde said that an "undeclared Emergency" has become more apparent in the country now.
On the CBI's claims of Chidambaram being evasive in the investigation pertaining to the INX Media case, the former union minister said in court: "Please look at the questions and answers, there are no questions which I have not answered, please read the transcript. They asked if I have a bank account abroad, I said no, they asked if my son has an account abroad I said yes."
Sibal had argued in court that of the 12 questions put to the accused (Chidambaram), six were asked long back in June 2018.
Arguing for a five-day remand of former union minister P Chidambaram in the INX Media case, the CBI argued that Karti, Chidambaram's son, also underwent custodial interrogation in the case. "We are not extorting confession but we have the right to reach to the root of the case," Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said. (PTI)
Former finance minister P Chidambaram asked Peter Mukerjea to help his son Karti by sending overseas remittances in exchange for FIPB approval to INX Media, Indrani Mukerjea told investigators probing allegations of money laundering and corruption. Chidambaram and his son have denied the allegations. Full story here
Special Court has concluded hearing arguments on the remand application of former union minister P Chidambaram by the CBI. The court will pass an order in half and hour.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta arguing for the CBI in the INX media case says "Chidambaram has tremendous potential of not cooperating in probe since he is highly intelligent." The CBI has sought for a five-day remand of the former union minister.
Countering Chidambaram's argument, Mehta said everybody is equal before court. He also opposed the plea that Chidambaram be allowed to argue to himself, saying able lawyers are already representing him. (PTI)
Singhvi opposes custodial interrogation of Chidambaram saying no allegation of tampering of evidence made by CBI. "Non-cooperation is if the probe agency calls me five times and I don’t go. Non-cooperation is not giving the answer they like to hear. They called P Chidambaram once, and he went. Where is non-cooperation?" he argues.
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi joins Kapil Sibal to oppose the CBI case against Chidambaram. He says the entire case is based on a statement on Indrani Mukerjea who has now turned an approver. This cannot be the ground to seek custodial interrogation, he argues.
He further says: "The whole case is that "I (Chidambaram) am evasive". He is evading means, I am not answering the way you (CBI) want me to answer."
Kapil Sibal now arguing against the five-day remand of former union minister P Chidambaram sought by the CBI.
"Twelve questions were put to the accused, out of which six were asked long back in June 2018." He further says "the custody of a person cannot be merely to carry out searches at the accused premises."
Sibal says his client was never evasive, arguing further that the grant of bail is a rule and the issue before the court is of his personal liberty.
Seeking five days remand of former union minister P Chidambaram, the CBI told court the INX Media case is a "serious and monumental case of money laundering."
Opposing the five-day remand of former union minister P Chidambaram sought by the CBI in the INX media case, senior advocate Kapil Sibal says in court: The probe is complete in this case and other accused including Karti Chidambaram has been given regular bail by the Delhi High Court, which was not interfered by the Supreme Court.
First arrest in the case was of Bhaskar Raman, chartered accountant of Karti, and he is also out on bail. Peter and Indrani is on bail by fault. Other secretaries during tenure have not been arrested. Sibal also points to the court that since yesterday evening Chidambaram was in their custody, but they have started interrogation only at 11 am today.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta arguing for the CBI said: Chidambaram has serious, active and informed role in the INX media case. Chidambaram has been evasive and chose to remain silent during the interrogation by the agency in the case. The offences committed by him is of serious magnitude and it can not be unearthed unless interrogated.
Seeking five days remand of former union minister P Chidambaram, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta arguing for the CBI, said Chidambaram's custodial interrogation necessary to unearth larger conspiracy in the INX Media case, adding that he is not cooperating in the case. He said Chidambaram will be confronted with documents relating to the case.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, for CBI, says Chidambaram was in conspiracy with others in the INX Media case. CBI said a non-bailable warrant was issued against Chidambaram and on that basis the arrest was made last night.
The CBI has sought a five-day remand of former union minister P Chidambaram in the INX media case. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta arguing for CBI in Court said they have moved an application seeking five-day custody of the former FM. Hearing is underway.
Special CBI Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar enters his courtroom. Hearing starts in the INX media case.
Inside a jam-packed courtroom where former union minister P Chidambaram awaits hearing in connection with the INX media case, his son and Congress MP Karti Chidambaram said it is the "same room, same drama, same story, only the roof has changed." Karti was referring to the hearing at the Delhi's Patiala House Court in the same case last year.
Chidambaram's battery of lawyers, including senior advocates Kapil Sibal, Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Vivek Tankha huddled ahead of the hearing that is set to begin shortly. Awaiting the judge, Chidambaram, with a smile on his face, speaks to the court staff. He has been made to stand in the courtroom's dock with a police official holding his hand.
Former Union home and finance minister P Chidambaram, arrested by the CBI in connection with its probe into alleged charges of corruption in INX Media case, produced before Special Judge.
Court of Special CBI Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar, before whom former union minister P Chidambaram is likely to be produced is fully occupied by journalists and lawyers.
After it was heard that the CBI team left with Chidambaram from its headquarters, his two lawyers including senior advocate Dayan Krishnan entered the courtroom. Karti Chidambaram is also trying to make his way into the jam packed courtroom
Heavy security has been deployed outside the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) office from where former union minister P. Chidambaram will be taken to court for hearing. Water cannons have also been deployed outside the office, reported ANI.
"Sometimes, the process is incorrect, I am not talking about legality but Chidambaram is a senior politician. He is a former finance minister and home minister. The way his matter has been handled, that is very depressing. That is very bad and sad as well," West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said.
A team of officials, armed with over 100 questions pertaining to process of clearance, alleged meetings with INX media promoter Indrani Mukerjea, companies Chess Management and Advantage Strategic etc, will question Chidambaram over the course of his custody with the agency, PTI sources said. The team, under Deputy SP R Parthasarthy, is leading the probe in the alleged corruption in the clearance of Rs 305 crore foreign investment to INX Media when Chidambaram was the Union finance minister, the officials said.
P Chidambaram's wife Nalini and son Karti along with senior lawyers representing the former Union minister arrived at the Rouse Avenue Court complex on Thursday ahead of the hearing in the INX Media corruption case in which he was arrested Wednesday night.
Congress party leaders and senior advocates Kapil Sibal, Abhishek M Singhvi, Vivek Tankha and Dayan Krishnan, among others have also reached the court complex. The CBI had arrested Chidambaram Wednesday night after high-drama with the agency officials scaling the walls to gain entry in his posh residence in tony neighbourhood of the Jor Bagh area.
The arrest came after the Delhi High Court removed protection from his arrest and rejected his anticipatory bail plea.
DMK president MK Stalin told reporters in Chennai, "I too saw how the CBI jumped the wall and arrested him. It is a matter of shame for India, it is a political vendetta. Chidambaram had asked for anticipatory bail but he was arrested, it's condemnable."
Security has been tightened around Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court Complex ahead of the arrival of the former Union minister. Delhi police personnel are being briefed by their senior officers.
"The arrest of senior Congress leader and former Home and Finance Minister P Chidambaram ji is a testimony to the Modi government's revenge politics and misuse of investigative agencies. Central agencies like CBI and ED should take care of their credibility before becoming a puppet," Patidar leader Hardik Patel said.
Hitting out at the Congress for strongly backing Chidambaram in the INX Media case, Union minister and senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the opposition party and its leadership is trying to "convert corruption into a revolution". "Congress is working with a negative mindset. They have converted corruption into a revolution. This is for the first time that corruption is becoming a revolution. Till now, revolution was against corruption, now revolution is being carried out in favour of corruption," Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told PTI.
The opposition Congress walked out from the Himachal Pradesh Assembly, protesting the arrest of Chidambaram in the INX Media case. Congress MLAs, led by Leader of Opposition Mukesh Agnihotri, raised slogans before staging the walkout. Agnihotri rose from his seat soon after the Question Hour at noon and stated that Chidambaram's arrest was a "murder of democracy". However, Speaker Rajiv Bindal stopped him from raising the issue, stating no notice for discussion was given. Soon after Congress MLAs started raising slogans “Modi Sarkar Murdabad". Countering them, BJP MLAs raised slogans like “Chor Machaye Shor.”
Karti Chidambaram arrived at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi to join the protest against the abrogation of Article 370. (Express photo/Tashi Tobgyal)
Union Minister of State for Home, G Kishan Reddy, told ANI: "Law will take its own course, the court takes decisions as per law. The party and the government have no role in it. It's the court, not the government that decides where to put the people who indulge in corruption."
Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala addresses the media in the national capital. (Express photo/Anil Sharma)
After turning an approver in the case in July this year, Indrani Mukerjee had said she will depose all the facts truthfully. Indrani is currently lodged in Mumbai’s Byculla jail in connection with the murder case of her daughter Sheena Bora.
Chidambaram, who spent the night in a CBI guest house, will be questioned in the alleged corruption in Rs 305 crore clearance given to INX media when he was the Union finance minister. The firm once promoted by Peter and Indrani Mukerjea, both in jail for murdering the latter's daughter Sheena Bora, had allegedly made payments to a firm linked to the former finance minister's son Karti Chidambaram, the CBI has said in the FIR. Chidambaram has strongly denied the allegations, saying the payments were for consultancy and his son was in no way associated with that company.
Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala addresses the media.
"Over the last two days, India witnessed the broad daylight murder of democracy as also the rule of law, by the government hellbent upon using CBI and ED as personal revenge-seeking departments for the party in power as also those ruling the country. The vindictive, malicious and selective manner in which former the former home minister and finance minister P Chidambaram has been persecuted and prosecuted is nothing short of brazen personal and political vendetta by Modi government," Surjewala said.
"The authorities are yet to come out with a compelling case against Chidambaram. False charges are heaped upon senior political rivals. We as a nation must rise and refuse to be mere spectacles. We hope the officers who scaled the wall of his residence will have the courage to tell the prime minister and home minister that there is zero evidence against Chidambaram," Surjewala said.
"The case lies on the basis of one approver, who is in prison and has been accused of murdering her daughter. Except for the blatant attempt to humiliate Chidambaram, there was no hurry to arrest him by sending CBI officials at his residence at night. He has always cooperated with the agencies and has the highest regard of the Constitution," the Congress leader said.
"Neither Chidambaram nor his son has been accused of any offence in the INX Media case. No chargesheet has been filed till today. Karti was raided, arrested and released on bail. Yet, the investigating authority seems to have lack of evidence to even present a chargesheet to the court, placing evidence against the former Union minister," Surjewala said.
While addressing the media, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said, "it is nothing but a personal and political vendetta by the Modi government. With a sinking economy spiralling out of their control, we now see the depts to which the desperate government will stoop to divert attention."
Senior lawyer Kapil Sibal told ANI, "It's a matter of great concern to us as members of the legal fraternity, also it should be a matter of concern as citizens. All we wanted was a hearing, the presiding judge chose instead to say that I am sending the file to the Chief Justice of India. Isn't a citizen entitled to be heard?"
"This is not merely targeting of my father but the targeting of Congress party. I will go to Jantar Mantar to protest," Karti Chidambaram told reporters outside Delhi airport.
Upon his arrival at the Delhi airport, Karti said, "It is an attempt to tarnish Congress' image. I've never met Peter Mukerjea and Indrani Mukerjea and had no interactions with the duo and their company. I have no knowledge about FIPB. Was he barricading himself with guns and bombs? This is nothing but theatrics for television. It is not only targeting of my father but of the Congress party."
According to CBI officials, Chidambaram, who spent his night at the agency's headquarters, remained silent except answering a few queries as and when questioned by the officers. His questioning will start at around 10 am today under DySP R Parthasarthy who is leading the probe, PTI reported.
"Chidambaram ji is a former Union finance and home minister, he is an intellectual and knows the law. He should not have behaved like this after the court's order. What happened was not good, had he surrendered earlier, his dignity would have remained intact," Satya Pal Singh, Baghpat BJP MP, told ANI.
Chidambaram's lawyer and senior Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi too hit out at the government. “I was sad and distressed to see that none of the tests of imminence of arrest was satisfied in Chidambaram’s case and yet the CBI and the ED were so keen to arrest him. Here was a 75-year-old man called once by the CBI which he attended, called eight times by the ED which he attended, and not in any remote sense a flight risk with zero evidence of tampering… but while I was sad and distressed, I was also happy to see the collective support… we were all required to stand together united and we did… and Chidambaram made a statement in words of studied moderation and held his head high,” Singhvi said.
Referring to the manner in which the CBI team scaled walls to arrest the former minister, Congress leader Anand Sharma told The Indian Express: “These visuals will shock the democratic world that India can allow this to happen with state support. Chidambaram is a respectable law-abiding citizen which he has vindicated. But to go in this dramatic manner is a total assault on the fundamental rights and the rights to privacy. There are ways for the officers to walk in, to talk respectfully… in this case, a former Home Minister and a former Finance Minister… for that matter any citizen…”
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor came out in support of P Chidambaram, with a tweet claiming that justice will prevail in the end. "Well said P Chidambaram! It is a tribute to your strength of character that you are standing up to persecution and character assassination with courage and confidence. I believe justice will prevail in the end. Till then we will have to allow some malicious minds their schadenfreude," he tweeted.
The Congress on Wednesday reached out to other Opposition parties to mount a coordinated protest against the BJP-led government. Agitated over the way Chidambaram was arrested from his residence in full media glare, the party said the objective was to humiliate him while playing to the gallery. Congress sources said the party is planning the next course of action and is in touch with other Opposition parties.