New Delhi:
P Chidambaram will attend the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament, son Karti Chidambaram said hours after the former Union Minister was granted bail by the Supreme Court in the INX Media case. It should be noted that P Chidambaram is a member of the Rajya Sabha, the upper House. Chidambaram will walk out of Tihar Jail after being under arrest for 105 days. News Nation has learnt that senior Congress leaders including C Venugopal, Mukul Wasnik and Virendra Rathore will reach Tihar Jail later in the day. Chidambaram's release order will be sent to Tihar Jail directly. Soon after the top court pronounced the bail order, son of the 74-year-old Congress leader had tweeted – “Phew. At last after 106 days”
While granting bail to 74-year-old former finance minister who has been in custody for 105 days, the apex court restrained him from either giving "any press interviews" or "any public comment" in connection with the case regarding him or other co-accused. Regarding Enforcement Directorate's contention that one of the witnesses was not prepared to be confronted with him as they are from the same state, the top court said Chidambaram "cannot be held responsible" for this when there was no material to indicate that he or anyone on his behalf had "restrained or threatened" the witness.
While setting aside the November 15 verdict of the Delhi High Court denying him bail in the case, a bench headed by Justice R Banumathi said Chidambaram will have to make himself available for interrogation during further probe as and when required by the ED. The bench, also comprising justices A S Bopanna and Hrishikesh Roy, said Chidambaram "shall not tamper with evidence or attempt to intimidate or influence the witnesses" and not leave the country without specific orders of trial court. It said Chidambaram would be released on bail on executing bail bonds of Rs 2 lakh with two sureties of like amount.
Reacting on the Supreme Court’s order, senior ex-Congress chief Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter and expressed his happiness. "Mr P Chidambaram's 106 day incarceration was vengeful and vindictive. I'm glad that the SC has granted him bail. I'm confident that he will be able to prove his innocence in a fair trial," Gandhi said on micro-blogging site.
