Chidambaram taken into custody from his residence by agencies

Mangalore Today News Network

Delhi, Aug 21, 2019 : After the Delhi High Court rejected his anticipatory bail in the INX Media case, former Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday, 21 August, claimed that the ED and the CBI have not filed any chargesheet against him or any member of his family, Yahoo reported.

 

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court listed Chidambaram’s anticipatory bail plea on Friday, 23 August, after refusing an urgent hearing.

Rahul Gandhi has come to the former finance minister’s defence, saying that he strongly condemns "this disgraceful misuse of power".

Chidambaram Arrives at His Residence

P Chidambaram arrives at his residence from the AICC headquarters after addressing the media.

’I Bow Down to the Orders of Supreme Court’: P Chidambaram

Addressing the media at the AICC headquarters in Delhi, Former Union Minister P Chidambaram, said he has not been accused of any offence in the INX media case. "There is no chargesheet filed by either the ED or the CBI before a competent court," the Congress leader said.

“I was aghast that I was accused of hiding from the law. On the contrary, I was seeking protection of law. I bow down to orders of the SC,” Chidambaram said, adding that he respects law “even if it is applied with an unequal hand by probe agencies.”

Congress Leaders to Address Media

Congress leaders Kapil Sibal, Abhishek Singhvi and Salman Khurshid will address the media at AICC headquarters on Wednesday.

CBI Issues Lookout Notice Against Chidambaram

The CBI has issued a lookout circular against former finance minister P Chidambaram to prevent him from leaving the country, officials said on Wednesday.

The agency has alerted all the airports to prevent Chidambaram from boarding a flight, they said, adding the circular was issued recently.

The ED has also issued a fresh lookout circular against him in connection with the INX Media money laundering case.

SC Lists Chidambaram’s Anticipatory Bail Plea on Friday

The Supreme Court has listed the anticipatory bail plea of former Union Minister P Chidambaram on Friday, 23 August.

CJI-Led Bench Rises Without Mentioning Case

The CJI Gogoi-led bench has risen without mentioning Chidambaram’s case. The former Union Minister’s lawyers Kapil Sibal, Salman Khurshid & Vivek Tankha had assembled in CJI’s court room where Ayodhya hearing was going on with the intention of mentioning his plea again.

Both ED and CBI Looking to Arrest Chidambaram: Sources

Speaking to The Quint, sources in the Enforcement Directorate have confirmed that both the ED and CBI are looking to arrest Chidambaram.

“Chidambram started appearing before ED only after March 2018 and till now he has appeared only 5-6 times and mostly he had been evasive,” the sources said.
Chidambaram’s Lawyers Assemble in CJI’s Court Room, Likely to Mention Plea Again

P Chidambaram’s lawyers have assembled in CJI’s court room where Ayodhya hearing is going on; likely to mention his plea again.

Won’t Hear Petition Till Formally Filed: SC Refuses to Hear Chidambaram’s Plea

The Supreme Court has refused to hear P Chidambaram’s plea urgently.

The top court said the defects in the petition were removed just now and it "cannot be listed for hearing today itself". It added that it will not hear the plea till the petition gets listed formally, meaning no protection from arrest for the Congress leader today.

Now P Chidambaram ’s team going to CJI’s court to mention the case there. They are likely to have another go at around 4 pm, after the ongoing Ayodhya hearing in SC is over.

Chidambaram’s Petition Has Defects: Reports

The petition filed by P Chidambaram on Wednesday has defects, media reports have said. The CJI is supposed to consider the plea for urgent listing.

’Condemn This Disgraceful Misuse of Power’: Rahul Gandhi Backs Chidambaram

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter to back P Chidambaram, saying the Modi government is “using the ED, CBI and sections of a spineless media to character assassinate Mr Chidambaram.”

ED Issues Lookout Notice Against Chidambaram: Reports

According to reports, a lookout notice has been issued against P Chidambaram by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Justice Ramana to Send Chidambaram’s Plea to CJI Gogoi

Justice NV Ramana has said that he will send of P Chidambaram’s plea seeking interim bail to Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi for an urgent listing.

Special Leave Petition Filed in SC by Chidambaram’s Lawyers

A special leave petition (SLP) has been filed in the Supreme Court by P Chidambaram’s lawyers seeking interim relief against Tuesday’s order of the Delhi HC, which cancelled the former finance minister’s anticipatory bail plea.

’Extremely Unfair’: Salman Khurshid on CBI Action Against Chidambaram

Asked about the CBI action against P Chidambaram, senior lawyer and Congress leader Salman Khurshid told the media that it was "extremely unfair".

’Shamefully Hunted Down’: Priyanka Gandhi Backs P Chidambaram

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra took to Twitter to defend P Chidambaram, saying he is being "shamefully hunted down". "We stand by him and will continue to fight for the truth no matter what the consequences are," she said.

CBI Team Leaves from Chidambaram’s Residence

A CBI team that had reached the residence of P Chidambaram in Delhi early on Wednesday, has now left. The former finance minister is all set to appeal for an urgent hearing in SC on Wednesday.

’Political Vendetta,’ Says Anand Sharma

The Congress questioned the actions of probe agencies against former Finance Minister P Chidambaram soon after his anticipatory bail plea was rejected by the Delhi High Court, and said what was the tearing hurry when the Supreme Court was slated to hear his appeal on Wednesday morning.

Reacting to the development, Congress senior spokesperson Anand Sharma said, "We fail to understand what is going to happen in the night. Heavens are not going to open up. Mr Chidambaram is an eminent person and a law abiding citizen. What we have been witnessing in the last few years is selective targeting and politics of vendetta, mainly against the leaders of the Opposition."

’Pre-Arrest Bail Should Be Denied to Economic Offenders, Law Should be Amended’: Delhi HC

Justice Sunil Gaur said an amendment in the existing law was needed to restrict the provisions of pre-arrest bail and make it inapplicable to offenders of high-profile economic offences like the INX Media scam.

"What is so far to be seen is the tip of the iceberg. Pre-arrest (bail) is not meant for high-profile economic offenders. Time has come to recommend to Parliament to suitably amend the law to restrict the provisions of pre-arrest bail and make it inapplicable to economic offenders of high-profile cases like the instant one. It is the need of the hour," the high court said in its 24-page judgment denying bail to the former Union minister in the INX media corruption and money-laundering cases.

CBI Officials Reach Chidambaram’s Residence to ’Locate Him’

Hours after the Delhi High Court refused to grant any protection from arrest to Chidambaram, a team of CBI officers landed at his posh Jor Bagh residence in New Delhi to locate him, officials said.

The CBI team left the premises after confirming that Chidambaram was not present at the address, they said.

The team, which had some superintendent of police-rank officials, did not make clear if they had gone to his residence to arrest him for alleged irregularities in foreign investment clearance to INX media during his tenure as finance minister.

The officials returned to the CBI headquarters where they got into a huddle with senior officers of the agency to decide the future course of action, officials said.

’Things Made Difficult,’ Says Sibal, Chidambaram Keeps Mum

Congress leader P Chidambaram maintained a stoic silence and kept himself away from the media after the dismissal of his anticipatory bail by the Delhi High Court in the INX Media scam.

Sibal spoke to the media and criticised the way the Delhi High Court dismissed Chidambaram’s plea in the case.

“The judgment was pronounced at 3:20 pm. We don’t know why at this hour. We asked for the stay of the operation of the judgment for three days to appeal in the Supreme Court. He (Justice Gaur) said he will pass the order which was delivered at 4 pm,” Sibal said.

He said he was in the apex court without a copy of judgement in his hand and things were made tough for approaching the top court.

’Classic Case of Money Laundering’: Delhi HC While Denying Protection to Chidambaram

The Delhi High Court said the INX media case involving Chidambaram is a “classic case of money laundering” and it was of the prima facie opinion that his custodial interrogation is required for an effective investigation in the matter.

Justice Sunil Gaur, who dismissed Chidambaram’s anticipatory bail plea in the corruption and money laundering cases related to the INX Media scam, said that granting bail in such cases will send wrong message to the society.

He also noted that the Congress leader was evasive in replies to the probe agencies when he was under protective cover given by the court.

Chidambaram to Appeal in SC for Urgent Hearing

P Chidambaram was asked to mention in the Supreme Court at 10:30 am his appeal for urgent hearing against the Delhi High Court order, which dismissed his anticipatory bail plea in the corruption and money laundering cases related to the INX Media scam.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal said that as Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi will be sitting in the Constitution Bench for hearing the Ayodhya case, the petition is to be mentioned at 10:30 am before the senior-most judge, who is not on the Constitution bench.

Kapil Sibal Meets Judicial Registrar

Kapil 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.

Kapil Sibal Meets Chidambaram After Court Order

P Chidambaram discussed with senior advocate Kapil Sibal the situation after Delhi High Court dismissed his anticipatory bail plea in the corruption and money laundering cases related to the INX Media scandal.

Sibal, along with a team of lawyers, explored the possibility of mentioning the appeal against the order in Supreme Court.

The discussions took place in 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.

Delhi HC Declines Chidambaram Interim Protection from Arrest

The Delhi High Court declined interim protection from arrest to Congress leader and former Union minister P Chidambaram for approaching the Supreme Court in the corruption and money laundering cases related to the INX Media scam.

Justice Sunil Gaur denied relief to Chidambaram.

Delhi HC Rejects Anticipatory Bail to P Chidambaram

The Delhi High Court dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of Congress leader and former Union minister P Chidambaram in the corruption and money laundering cases related to the INX Media scandal.

Justice Sunil Gaur denied relief to Chidambaram.

CBI had registered an FIR on 15 May 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 finance minister.

The ED had in 2018 lodged the money laundering case in this regard.