Chidambaram’s arrest ‘murder of democracy’: Cong

The Congresson Thursday alleged that the Narendra Modi-led BJP government in the Centre hasused the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate(ED) as personal revenge seeking departments.

Congressspokesperson Randeep Surjewala while addressing the media at party headquarterstoday said, "The arrest of former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram is broaddaylight murder of democracy and the rule of law by the Modi government."

The seniorCongress leader was arrested on Wednesday night in the INX Media corruption case.

The Congressfurther questioned the testimony of co-founder of INX Media Indrani Mukherjea. Theparty alleged that the CBI is relying on Mukherjea's statement to build a caseagainst Chidambaram. "She is an accused in the murder of her own daughter,"said the party.

It maybe mentioned here that Indrani Mukerjea on July 11 turned approver in the INXMedia case. She was granted pardon in the case by a court on July 4 after she voluntarilyagreed to become the approver.

Earlier, the CBI had registered an FIR in the case on May 15, 2017 alleging irregularities in the FIPB clearance granted to the media group for receiving overseas funds to the tune of Rs. 305 crore in 2007 during P Chidambaram's tenure as finance minister. Later, the ED also lodged the money laundering case against the company's founders, the Mukherjeas, and others under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).