INX Media Case: Chidambaram moves Supreme Court after Delhi HC rejects plea for anticipatory bail

Congress leader P Chidambaram was asked Tuesday to mention in the Supreme Court tomorrow his appeal for urgent hearing against the Delhi High Court order which dismissed his anticipatory bail plea in the corruption and money laundering cases related to the INX Media scam.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal said that as Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi will be sitting in the Constitution bench for hearing the Ayodhya case, the petition is to be mentioned at 10:30 am before the senior-most judge, who is not on the Constitution bench.

Chidmabaram and a battery of his lawyers were in hectic discussions after the Delhi High Court dismissed his anticipatory bail plea in the INX media scam. Senior advocates Kapil Sibal, Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Salman Khurshid rushed to the apex court following the high court order.

Senior advocate Dayan Krishnan, who was arguing the case in the high court, also joined the discussions.  Sibal said the team is yet to get copy of the Delhi Court judgement.

He was asked by a Supreme Court official to place Chidambaram's petition before Registrar (judicial) who will take call on putting it before the Chief Justice of India. Sibal met Registrar (judicial) Surya Pratap Singh and explained to him the situation and explored as to what could be done.

The development took place minutes after the high court declined interim protection from arrest to Chidambaram for approaching the Supreme Court.

"We will mention the matter before the Supreme Court tomorrow morning," Kapil Sibal said. The petition against Delhi HC judgement on P Chidambaram is yet to be filed before SC, a lawyer associated with case told news agency PTI.

The Delhi High Court is of prima facie opinion that custodial interrogation of Chidambaram is required for an effective investigation in the case. The Delhi Court on Tuesday said that it is a classic case of money laundering and granting bail in such case will send wrong message to the society.

The High Court further added that facts reveal that Chidambaram is the kingpin, the key conspirator in the case. Chidambaram has been asked to mention his appeal tomorrow at 10:30 am in the Supreme Court.