Delhi High Court rejects P Chidambaram’s bail plea

In a big setback for former Finance Minister P Chidambaram, Delhi High Court today rejected the anticipatory bail plea of the Congress leader in the corruption and money laundering cases related to the INX Media scandal. The court also declined interim protection from arrest to Chidambaram.

JusticeSunil Gaur of the high court said, "Both the applications are dismissed," "Boththe petitions (in CBI and ED case) are dismissed. The court had reserved its order onJanuary 25 this year. The court hasn't ruled on the senior Congress leader'srequest to give him three days interim protection from arrest to go in appeal.

After thecourt pronounced the order, senior advocate Dayan Krishnan, appearing forChidambaram, sought stay on the operation of the order for three days, to whichthe court said that it will consider the request and will pass order on it.

During thearguments, both the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate had opposedChidambaram's plea on the ground that his custodial interrogation was requiredas he was evasive during questioning

The seniorCongress leader's role had come under the scanner of various investigatingagencies in the Rs 3,500-crore Aircel-Maxis deal and the INX Media caseinvolving Rs 305 crore. It was during his tenure as finance minister in the UPA-Igovernment that clearances from the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB)were given to the two ventures.

Reportedly inthe INX Media case, the CBI had registered an FIR on May 15, 2017 allegingirregularities in the FIPB clearance granted to the media group for receivingoverseas funds of Rs 305 crore in 2007 during Chidambaram's tenure as financeminister.

Thereafter,the ED in 2018 lodged the money laundering case in this regard. Chidambaram'spetition had said that though no summons had ever been served on him by the EDin this case, he had an apprehension of arrest in view of the summons issued tohim by the CBI.