INX Media money laundering case: SC protects Karti Chidambaram from arrest by ED till March 26

ALSO READ | Delhi High Court pulls up Gurumurthy over tweets on Karti Chidambaram judge

A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said it would hear the matter on March 26 and the top court would answer the question regarding the interpretation of section 19 of the PMLA. The apex court’s order came hours after the high court extended Chidambaram’s protection from arrest in the ED case from March 20 to March 22.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had on Tuesday approached the Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court order granting Karti interim protection from arrest in connection with the case.

Express Explained |   What is the decade-old INX Media case?

The agency, in its petition, is learnt to have said that the high court should not have granted the relief to Karti on a petition filed under Article 226 (which deals with the power of high courts to issue certain writs). The ED also pointed out that over a thousand cases were being probed by it across the country and the Delhi High Court order was likely to impact these as the accused in those cases might want similar relief.

Karti had earlier approached the top court with a petition challenging ED proceedings against him under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in the case. The apex court declined to grant any interim relief but allowed him to withdraw the plea and approach Delhi High Court.

On March 9, the high court asked ED not to arrest Karti, who is in CBI custody in the case — in case he gets bail in the CBI case —till it heard the matter next. Granting him the relief, the court said it was yet to decide the constitutional validity of Section 19 of PMLA which deals with the ED’s power to arrest.

(With PTI inputs)