INX Media Case: P Chidambaram To Remain In CBI Custody Till September 2

Former Union Finance Minister Chidambaram will remain in the custody of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) till Monday, September 2 in the INX Media case. A Delhi Court accepted CBI's plea to extend Chidambaram's custodial interrogation by five days on Friday. Earlier, Chidambaram was produced before Special Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar on expiry of his 4-day CBI custody. Chidambaram was arrested on August 21 and produced before the court the next day; since then he is in the CBI custody. 

Live Updates:

3:52 pm: Court extends the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) remand of P Chidambaram till September 2

3:25 pm: CBI seeks extension of Chidambaram's custodial interrogation by five days

3:15 pm: Chidambaram brought to Rouse Avenue Court for hearing on expiry of his CBI custody

3:00 pm: Today’s hearing will be crucial for the senior Congress leader because in case the special court refuses to grant his custody to the CBI, Chidambaram may be sent to Tihar Jail situated in Delhi.

2:55 pm: The former Finance Minister is accused of okaying FIPB clearance for INX Media in lieu of alleged kickbacks, which were directed to shell companies owned by his son Karti Chidambaram.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Thursday said it will pronounce on September 5 the order on plea of former finance minister P Chidambaram in the INX Media money laundering case lodged by the Enforcement Directorate. A bench of Justices R Banumathi and A S Bopanna also extended interim protection from arrest granted to Chidambaram till next Thursday.

The court refused to comment on it after solicitor general Tushar Mehta said that extension of remand can only be done before the CBI court. The bench also directed the ED to place before it in a sealed cover the material which the probe agency wanted to produce for the court's perusal.

The top court said it will decide on the question whether it should look into the documents placed before it by the ED in a sealed cover.

Chidambaram's plea in the apex court has challenged the August 20 verdict of the Delhi High Court denying him anticipatory bail in the INX Media money laundering case lodged by the ED. The CBI had registered an FIR on May 15, 2017, alleging irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (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 2018.