Supreme Court Grants Bail To P Chidambaram In INX Media Case, To Remain In ED Custody

The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted bail to former Union Minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram in the INX Media case filed by the CBI. However, the bail does not mean Chidambaram will walk free. He is in the Enforcement Directorate’s custody, hence the ex- Finance Minister will remain in jail. It should be noted that the bail granted by the top court will not have any impact on the ED case. The Supreme Court also made it clear that Chidambaram won’t be able to leave the country without the permission of the trial court.

In the INX Media case, the CBI had registered an FIR on May 15, 2017, alleging irregularities in the FIPB clearance granted to the 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. Chidambaram had approached the Supreme Court seeking bail in the INX Media case lodged by CBI after the Delhi High Court on September 30, denied him the relief. He had not filed the bail plea before the trial court.

Thereafter, the ED lodged a money laundering case in this regard in 2017. The 74-year-old senior Congress leader approached the apex court challenging the September 30 verdict of the high court which had dismissed his bail plea in the INX Media corruption case, filed by the CBI, saying the probe was at an advanced stage and the possibility of his influencing the witnesses cannot be ruled out.