Setback for P Chidambaram, Delhi High Court rejects anticipatory bail plea in INX Media case

Congress leader P Chidambaram on Tuesday discussed with senior advocates Kapil Sibal, Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Salman Khurshid the situation after the Delhi High Court dismissed his anticipatory bail plea in corruption and money laundering cases related to the INX Media scam. Sibal was asked by Supreme Court official to place Chidambaram’s petition before Registrar (judicial) who will take call for putting it before the Chief Justice of India. Sibal met Registrar (judicial) Surya Pratap Singh and explained him the situation and what could be done.

The senior lawyer told PTI that SC Registrar (judicial) has said he will inform him about development on Chidambaram’s plea. Sibal, along with a team of lawyers, is currently exploring possibility of mentioning the appeal against the high court order in the Supreme Court. The discussions are going on in the Supreme Court.

The development came minutes after the high court declined interim protection from arrest to Chidambaram for approaching the Supreme Court. After the high court denied him relief, senior advocate Dayan Krishnan, appearing for Chidambaram, sought stay on the operation of the order for three days, which the court denied.

On May 15, 2017, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had registered an FIR in the case alleging irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance granted to the INX Media for receiving overseas funds to the tune of Rs 305 crore in 2007, during P Chidambaram's tenure as finance minister.

Prior to this development, the top court had allowed P Chidambaram’s son Karti Chidambaram to travel to the United States, Spain and Germany in May and June. He is also facing the trial in the INX Media money laundering case. A Bench headed by the Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi had asked Karti Chidambaram to deposit a security deposit of Rs 10 crore. Karti has been questioned on several occasions in the case being probed by the ED as well as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The agencies are probing how Karti managed to get clearance to the tune of Rs 305 crore from the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) in 2007 when his father was the finance minister.

The agency had registered the FIR against Karti, his company Chess Management Services, Peter Mukerjea and Indrani Mukerjea, INX Media, Advantage Strategic Consulting Services and its Director Padma Vishwanathan.

Both CBI and the Enforcement Directorate are investigating the foreign investment clearance granted to the Aircel-Maxis deal in 2006 and the INX Media in 2007 when Chidambaram was the finance minister in the UPA government. The government has already given sanction to prosecute him in Aircel Maxis case.

(With agency inputs)