Western Toilet, Spectacles And Medicines: Things Chidambaram Wants In Tihar Jail

Former finance minister P Chidambaram, who was sent to judicial custody till September 19 on Thursday, moved a separate plea seeking certain things he would need during his stay in Tihar jail. The senior Congress leader requested the court that he be provided a separate cell with adequate security and a western toilet.

Soon after special Judge Ajay Kumar read out his order sending Chidambaram to the Tihar jail till September 19, his lawyers moved separate pleas seeking permission to carry his spectacles, prescribed medicines and facility of a western toilet.

Earlier in the day, Chidambaram, who was in the CBI custody since August 21, was sent to judicial custody till September 19 by Delhi's Rouse Avenue Court in the INX Media case. The former finance minister had opposed the judicial custody and told the court that he was ready to go to the Enforcement Directorate’s custody instead.

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However, special Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar tunred down Chidambaram's offer to surrender before the Enforcement Directorate and sent him to 14-day judicial custody till September 19.

Chidambaram is accused of granting illegal Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approvals to jailed media baron Indrani Mukerjea's firm INX Media in 2007, when he was the finance minsiter of the country. Accoridng to the ED, he recieved kickbacks in exchange of the illegal FIPB clearnance to the INX Media.

The kickbacks were paid to various shell companies floated by his son Karti Chidambaram on the names of his employees and other business associates, the central probe agency claimed. He, however, categorically denied the charges and said that his arrest was politically motiovated.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Chidambaram will be lodged in a separate cell with adequate security.
• His cell will have a western toilet and not the regular Indian one in other cells.
• He was also allowed to carry his spectacles and prescribed medicines with him.