INX Media Case: Delhi High Court Rejects Regular Bail Petition Of Congress Leader P Chidambaram

What can be termed as another setback for the former finance minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram, the Delhi High Court on Monday has denied him bail, on grounds of the probe agency's arguments.

The probe agency in its argument had said that the Chidambaram might influence the investigation if he is out of jail. The court has also said that it cannot be ruled out that Chidambaram might influence witnesses of the case. The court was looking into three-pointers, namely, if Chidambaram was trying to flee, if he was tampering with evidence and if he can influence witnesses.

Justice Suresh Kait denied bail to the Congress leader, saying there is no chance of tampering with evidence but there is a possibility that Chidambaram can influence witnesses. Chidambaram, who is in custody since his arrest by the CBI on August 21, did not approach the trial court and had directly filed the regular bail plea in the high court.

He was arrested from his Jor Bagh residence here and is in Tihar Jail under judicial custody till October 3. The CBI had registered an FIR on May 15, 2017, alleging irregularities in the FIPB clearance granted to the INX Media group for receiving overseas funds of Rs 305 crore in 2007 during Chidambaram's tenure as the finance minister.

Thereafter, the ED lodged a money laundering case in this regard in 2017.