Congress leader P Chidambaram bail petitions in the INX Media case were rejected by the Delhi High Court on Tuesday.
P Chidambaram INX Media Case Highlights: Senior Congress leader and former Home Minister P Chidambaram was arrested on Wednesday hours after the Supreme Court posted for hearing on Friday his petition seeking a stay on the Delhi High Court order dismissing his anticipatory bail petitions in the INX Media case.
In a dramatic press appearance in the evening, former finance minister P Chidambaram claimed that the FIR lodged against him does not accuse him of any wrongdoing. “If I’m asked to choose between life and liberty I shall unhesitantly choose liberty. Between now and Friday, I will walk with a clear conscience and my head held high,” he said while addressing the media.
Earlier today, the Supreme Court listed Chidambaram’s bail plea, seeking protection from arrest, for Friday. Meanwhile, Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the CBI issued a look out notice against Chidambaram and both investigative agencies, earlier in the day, filed a caveat against the former finance minister in the top court. Chidambaram’s plea in the apex court now becomes infructuous as he was seeking protection from arrest. Chidambaram will now have to seek bail before the Rouse Avenue court where the INX Media case is being heard.
Media outside P Chidambaram’s residence. (Express photo: Praveen Khanna)
In a dramatic turn of events Wednesday night, personnel of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) 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. Read the full story here
Congress leader and former finance minister P Chidambaram has been brought to the CBI headquarters in Delhi.
Karti Chidambaram: "ED has summoned him a number of times and he has appeared every time. We will go to the court, we will be vindicated eventually."
When asked who is responsible for the "spectacle" behind Chidambaram's arrest, Karti said, "All of this is being done by BJP. Who else? You think Donald Trump? No."
Minutes after the former finance minister P Chidambaram was apprehended by the CBI, his son Karti addressed the media and said no chargesheet was filed against his father in the INX Media case. "This is a totally politically motivated witchhunt. A spectacle has been made," he said.
(Source: ANI photo)
The CBI has finally arrested P Chidambaram after almost an hour of drama outside his residence. The former finance minister was driven out in the CBI car, TV news channel NDTV flashed. The team of about 30 CBI sleuths accompanied by Delhi police officials reached the Jor Bagh residence of Chidambaram and knocked at the doors for a few minutes before scaling the boundary wall to enter the premises.
Karti Chidambaram, son of the former finance minister says "The drama and spectacle being enacted by the agencies is to simply sensationalise and satisfy the voyeuristic pleasure of some."
Moments after Chidambaram concluded briefing the media, the CBI arrived at his Jor Bagh residence in Delhi. Minuter later the CBI was joined by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Delhi Police at his house. CBI officials scaled wall to enter Chidambaram's residence. The team of about 30 CBI sleuths accompanied by Delhi police officials reached the Jor Bagh residence of Chidambaram and knocked at the doors for a few minutes before scaling the boundary wall to enter the premises, PTI reported.
Chidambaram: "I am aghast that I was accused of hiding from the law, on the contrary, I was seeking the protection of law. My lawyers tell that cases will be listed on Friday. I bow down to orders of SC. I respect the law even if it is applied with an unequal hand by probe agencies.
"Until Friday and beyond, let's hope the lamp of liberty will shine bright and illuminate the whole country," he says.
Chidambaram: "Some days ago, when I spoke in Parliament, I had said that every Judge in this country will uphold the liberty of a citizen. I had said that the collective conscience and the institutional memory of the court, as a venerable institution, will guide all Judges of the country. As much as I believe in liberty, I also believe in the wisdom of our Judges."
Chidambaram: "I enjoyed interim protection for 18 months. After seven months, the Delhi High Court cancelled my interim bail. No chargesheet has been filed against me in the INX Media case."
"I was accused of hiding from the law, on the contrary, I was seeking the justice of the law," he says.
"Between now and Friday, I will walk with a clear conscience and my head held high. I will also pray that the investigative agencies will also follow the law. I shall respect the law even if it applied with an uneven hand," Chidambaram says.
Chidambaram: "The most precious article is article 21. If I'm asked to choose between life and liberty I shall unhesitantly choose liberty. "
"I have not been accused of any offence. FIR does not accuse me of any wrongdoing. These are lies spread by pathological liars," he says.
The BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said he Centre did not interfere in Chidambaram's investigation and he must face the consequences for his deeds, PTI reported.
"If he has done something fishy, he must face consequences. Probe agencies do not work at the government's behest. They have powers to act independently," PTI quoted Hussain as saying.
* On Wednesday morning, Sibal along with a team of lawyers, including Salman Khurshid, Vivek Tankha and Indira Jaising, filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in the top court seeking interim relief against the HC order. “The matter should be heard. I (Chidambaram) should not be arrested in the meanwhile,” the petition stated.
* Chidambaram’s counsel Sibal mentioned the matter before a bench comprising of Justices N V Ramana, M Shantanagoudar and Ajay Rastogi and asked for an urgent hearing before the Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi.
* Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) issued a lookout notice against Chidambaram. They said the alert against the Congress leader has been sent to all land, air and seaports.
* Moments later, the CBI and the ED filed a caveat in SC on Chidambaram’s plea seeking protection from arrest. The intention was that the top court should hear the probe agencies first before passing any order in the matter.
* Meanwhile, the Registrar (Judicial) of the Supreme Court pointed few defects in the SLP filed by Chidambaram’s counsel, preventing the case to be listed for today. The Registrar later informed the SC had listed the case for Friday.
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Congress will be holding a presser in relation to the case at 8.15 pm today at the AICC headquarters. The media briefing will be held by senior advocates Kapil Sibal, Abhishek Singhvi, Salman Khurshid and Vivek Tankha.
The CBI has issued a lookout circular against Chidambaram to prevent him from leaving the country, PTI quoted officials as saying. The agency has alerted all airports to prevent Chidambaram from boarding a flight, adding that the circular was issued recently, PTI reported.
Earlier today, the ED too had issued a lookout notice against the former finance minister.
The Supreme Court is likely to hear Chidambaram's plea on Friday.
The bench of the CJI has risen for the day, while Chidambaram's plea was not mentioned as planned, PTI reported. Chidambaram's lawyers had assembled in the courtroom of Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi where Ayodhya case was being heard. They were likely to mention his plea again.
Counsel for the Congress leader says they are waiting for Registrar's message on listing the petition, PTI reported. Chidambaram's lawyers are trying to list the matter in court today itself, PTI stated. Chidambaram's team of lawyers are having deliberations in the consultation room in the top court, according to PTI.
Earlier today, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the CBI and the ED told the bench that it was a case of money laundering of "monumental magnitude", PTI reported. "We are ready and fully prepared to oppose any move by Chidambaram," PTI quoted one of the law officers assisting Mehta as saying.
Defending Chidambaram, Sibal said his client was granted protection from arrest for more than a year in the INX case lodged by the CBI and ED. Further, he said the high court had also refused to grant any protection from arrest to Chidambaram to enable him to approach the apex court.
Reading from the petition, Sibal said, " "The matter should be heard. I (Chidamabaram) should not be arrested in the meanwhile," PTI reported.
The Supreme Court refuses for urgent listing of Chidambaram's plea against the Delhi High Court order, PTI reported. The high court on Tuesday had rejected the Congress leader's anticipatory bail application in two cases of alleged corruption and money laundering linked to the INX Media.
According to PTI, the top court said the defects in the petition were removed just now and it "cannot be listed for hearing today itself".
The bench comprising of Justices N V Ramana, M Shantanagoudar and Ajay Rastogi said, "Without listing of the petition, we cannot hear the matter," PTI reported.
When Sibal repeatedly asked for hearing the matter today, the bench responded, "Sorry Mr Sibal. We cannot hear the matter," according to PTI.
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Chidambaram, assured the Bench that they will provide an undertaking stating that Chidambaram will not go anywhere. "My client is not going to run away. A lookout notice has been issued against him...we will give an undertaking that he is not going anywhere," Sibal informed the bench.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta joins the issue and says he too has something to say, however, the bench tells them that the occasion is only for mentioning.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi Wednesday rallied behind former finance minister P Chidambaram, saying the government is misusing central agencies to “character assassinate” the former union minister. Chidambaram, who was denied anticipatory bail Tuesday, faces arrest in two cases of alleged corruption and money laundering linked to INX Media. “Modi’s Govt is using the ED, CBI & sections of a spineless media to character assassinate Mr Chidambaram. I strongly condemn this disgraceful misuse of power,” he tweeted.
Chidambaram said observations of the high court that the magnitude of the case justifies denial of bail is manifestly "illegal and unjust". Approval was granted for an original investment and the downstream investment. "Both investment proposals were examined and processed in the normal course and placed before the FIPB. It was FIPB which recommended grant of approval and the Petitioner simply approved the recommendation. None of the FIPB members have been attempted to be arrested," he said. (PTI)
A caveat is a form of application which is filed by a person or organisation, informing the court that another person may file a suit or application against him and that the court must give the person filing the caveat a fair hearing before deciding any matter.
The CBI and ED filed a caveat in the Supreme Court in the petition filed by Congress leader P Chidambaram seeking protection from arrest. This would mean that the apex court will hear the probe agencies before passing any order in the matter.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued a lookout circular against former finance minister P Chidambaram in connection with the INX Media money laundering case, officials said Wednesday. They said the alert notice against the Congress leader, whose anticipatory bail was rejected on Tuesday, has been sent to all land, air and seaports and law enforcement agencies at these facilities. It says the ED should be alerted in case the person is found on their premises. (PTI)
*The CBI team Wednesday morning visited the former finance minister’s house for the second time in the last 24 hours.
*Chidambaram filed SLP in SC seeking interim relief against HC order.
*Justice N V Ramana passes the matter to CJI Ranjan Gogoi for urgent hearing.
*Kapil Sibal was not able to mention the urgent listing of P Chidambaram's plea before CJI.
*ED has issued a lookout circular against Chidambaram.
Senior lawyer, Kapil Sibal, said the high court had refused to grant any protection from arrest to Chidambaram to enable him to approach the apex court "The matter should be heard. I (Chidambaram) should not be arrested in the meanwhile," Sibal said. The senior lawyer told the court that at 2 am on Wednesday the probe agencies have pasted a notice on Chidambaram's house that he has to appear before them within two hours.
Senior lawyer Kapil Sibal was not able to mention the urgent listing of P Chidambaram's plea before CJI as the five-judge Constitution bench of the top court commenced the day-to-day hearing in the Ayodhya case.
Delhi High Court has declined Congress leader P Chidambaram’s plea for anticipatory bail and interim protection from arrest in cases of corruption and money laundering related to the alleged INX media scam. CBI had registered an FIR in May 2017, alleging irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance given to the INX group for receiving overseas funds of Rs 305 crore in 2007. Chidambaram was Union Finance Minister at the time. Last year, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) registered a case of money laundering, and the CBI called Chidambaram for questioning. Earlier this year, Chidambaram moved Delhi High Court to seek anticipatory bail in both the cases. Read more here
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta opposed the bail plea of former finance minister calling it “a case of monumental magnitude”.
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal mentioned the case before the Bench headed by Justice N V Ramana. Justice N V Ramana told senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Chidambaram, that the case will be put before the CJI for urgent hearing.
P Chidambaram filed plea for interim bail in Supreme Court saying that Delhi High Court’s observation is "completely baseless and supported by no material whatsoever”.
P Chidambaram's lawyer, wrote to the CBI after the probe agency had put up a notice outside the Congress leader's residence saying, "I am instructed to state that your notice fails to mention the provision of law under which my client has been issued a notice to appear within two hours.
Congress leader P Chidambaram's legal team has filed a Special Leave Petition (SLP) in Supreme Court seeking interim relief against Tuesday's order of the Delhi HC which rejected the anticipatory bail petitions of former finance minister.
The Congress on Tuesday came out in support of P Chidambaram, hours after CBI officials went to the senior party leader’s residence following the Delhi High Court’s rejection of his anticipatory bail application in two cases of alleged corruption and money laundering linked to INX Media. The party also played down the court’s observation that it was a “classic case of money laundering” and that facts reveal that Chidambaram “is the kingpin”, and has accused the government of indulging in a political vendetta.
Taking to Twitter, Vadra said Chidambaram is being “shamefully hunted down” because he “unhesitatingly speaks truth to power and exposes the failures of this government”. Calling him an “extremely qualified and respected member of the Rajya Sabha, (who) has served our nation with loyalty for decades including as Finance Minister & Home Minister,” she said the “truth is inconvenient to cowards.”
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