Chidambaram Likely To Be Arrested If The Supreme Court Upholds Delhi High Court’s Rejection Of His Plea For Bail

Former union finance minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram is likely to be arrested if the Supreme Court upholds the Delhi High Court order which rejected his bail plea.

He has moved the Supreme Court seeking relief, challenging the decision of the Delhi High Court, which denied him anticipatory bail in the INX Media case. His legal team, led by Kapil Sibal, which has challenged the High Court order in the Supreme Court is expected to request for an early hearing.

After an urgent listing of the petition was sought, Chidambaram was told to mention the matter before the senior most judge present at the Supreme Court.

After the Delhi High Court rejected Chidambaram’s petition for anticipatory bail, officers of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) reached his Jor Bagh residence in New Delhi but failed to find him, while the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is also on the look out for him.

Earlier, the Delhi High Court denied his anticipatory bail saying that he seems to be the “kingpin” and “key conspirator” in the INX Media case and needs to be interrogated in custody for the investigation to be effective.

Justice Sunil Gaur rejected Chidambaram’s anticipatory bail plea stating that both of Chidambaram’s petitions in the CBI as well as the ED case have been dismissed.

Both the CBI and the ED opposed Chidambaram's plea on the ground that his custodial interrogation is required since he was evasive during questioning.

After the Delhi High Court rejected his plea, senior advocate Dayan Krishnan, appeared for Chidambaram, and sought a stay on the operation of the order for three days. The court stated that it would consider the request and pass an order on it.

It may be recalled that the INX Media case pertains to alleged irregularities in Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance to INX Media at the time when Chidambaram was Union Finance Minister.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has accused him and his son Karti Chidambaram of having received illegal gratification from the then owners of INX Media owners, namely Peter Mukherjea and Indrani Mukherjea for the FIPB clearance.

The CBI and ED has relied upon the statement of Indrani Mukherjea who has turned approver in the INX Media case.