CBI, ED Issue Look Out Notice Against Chidambaram As Justice Ramana Places Matter Before Chief Justice of India

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) have issued a look out circular against former union finance minister P Chidambaram so that he cannot leave the country.

Meanwhile, Supreme Court Justice N V Ramana heard the special leave petition at Court Number 3 and ordered Chidambram’s case file to be placed before Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi, who is hearing the Ayodhya case as part of the constitutional bench hearing the Ayodhya case.

Justice Gogoi is expected to take a decision on an urgent basis during lunch break whether Chidambaram should be given relief or not.

Earlier, Chidambaram’s lawyer Kapil Sibal went to Court Number 3 and told Justice N V Ramana that P Chidambaram is not going to flee. Sibal also reiterated that there is no need for investigative agencies to get aggressive in their bid to arrest Chidambaram.

Sibal also made a request to the Supreme Court to grant interim protection to Chidambaram from arrest until the case is listed.

However, the Supreme Court bench refused to pass such an interim order until Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi takes a decision on listing of the case.

Arguing for the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Solicitor General Tushar Mehta stated that Chidambaram must not be given any relief, adding that the INX Media case is one of “monumental magnitude”.

As things stand, Chidambaram’s legal team has maintained that there is no compulsion that he has to present himself for arrest especially since Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi is set to take a decision on the matter.

In this connection, it may be noted that Chidambaram’s legal team had written a letter to the CBI asking which under provision of law he has been issued a notice to appear before the investivative agency within two hours, after the CBI visited Chidambaram’s residence and pasted a notice outside his residence.