Hours after the Delhi High Court refused former union finance minister P Chidambaram to grant any protection from arrest in the INX Media case, the CBI issued a notice to him asking him to appear before the investigation officer "within two hours", after failing to find him at his residence.
At around 6.30 pm, 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, the officials said.
Team of officials returned to his residence and pasted a notice asking Chidambaram to appear before R Parthasarthy, CBI Deputy SP, who is probing the case to record his statement under Section 161 of the CrPC.
Sources told PTI that the notice has also been sent to his email ID. However, it could not be immediately ascertained when the notice was issued to Chidambaram, a senior Congress leader.
Chidambaram is likely to seek protection from arrest from the Supreme Court on August 21 morning.
The Delhi High Court on Tuesday refused to grant any protection to Chidambaram from arrest by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate.
He failed to get an audience from Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi on Tuesday for urgent hearing of his appeal in the Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court order dismissing his anticipatory bail plea.
A team of lawyers led by senior advocate and Chidambaram's party colleague Kapil Sibal was told by the registrar (judicial) to mention the petition on Wednesday morning in the apex court.
The CBI had registered an FIR on May 15, 2017, alleging irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance granted to the media group for receiving overseas funds of Rs 305 crore in 2007 during Chidambaram's tenure as finance minister.
Thereafter, the ED lodged a money laundering case in this regard in 2018.
Update:
Nalini, Karti Chidambaram reach CBI Headquarters in New Delhi to meet P Chidambaram, CNN News18 has reported.
Aircel Maxis case: Court reserves order on anticipatory bail plea of Chidambarams for September 3
A Delhi Court Friday refused to adjourn the Aircel-Maxis case against former Union finance minister P Chidambaram and his son Karti on the pleas by CBI and ED, which sought the adjournment saying that another case pertaining to INX Media involving them was pending before the Supreme Court.
The court then reserved order on Chidambarams anticipatory bail application for September 3, extending the interim protection from arrest to them till then.
It, however, gave liberty to CBI and ED to argue anytime before that date.
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The hearing witnessed heated exchange of words between prosecution counsel and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and senior advocate and Chidambaram's party colleagues Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Singhvi. (PTI)
The Supreme Court was hearing two separate petitions today filed by P Chidambaram, challenging the Delhi High Court August 20 verdict by which his anticipatory bail was dismissed in the cases registered by both the agencies -- CBI and ED.
In the CBI case, a special court on August 22 sent Chidambaram for custodial interrogation after he was arrested on the night of August 21.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said that Chidambaram cannot be arrested in the ED case till Monday as he is already in the custody of the CBI and a person cannot be arrested simultaneously by two agencies. (PTI)
UPDATE |
Both CBI and Enforcement Directorate matters to be heard again on Monday (August 26) in Supreme Court.
JUST IN |
Supreme Court grants interim protection from arrest to former Union Minister P Chidambaram till August 26 in connection with INX media case probed by Enforcement Directorate. He is in CBI custody till August 26. (ANI)
Solicitor General, Tushar Mehta in Supreme Court:
We have electronic evidence, emails exchanges to trace route of illicit, illegal transfer or money. Shell companies were created by those having close connection with P Chidambaram and the money was laundered through these companies. Some of these companies are based in abroad. I will satisfy the conscience of this court. (CNN News18)
Kapil Sibal in Supreme Court:
Delhi HC judgment is verbatim of what is in the ED's note. Comma for comma, full stop for full stop. Everything is a copy, so the note becomes the basis of denying bail to Chidambaram. (ANI)
Kapil Sibal in Supreme Court:
Chidambaram's fundamental right to access to justice has been frustrated by the way in which the plea against Delhi HC verdict was not heard despite moving the SC on time. (ANI)
UPDATE |
Plea filed by P Chidambaram in Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court order in CBI case to be heard on August 26. (ANI)
JUST IN |
Hearing has begun in Supreme Court on petitions filed by former Union Minister P Chidambaram against the Delhi High Court’s order rejecting his anticipatory bail plea in connection with INX media case probed by CBI and ED. (ANI)
There is evidence against Chidambaram, says Kishan Reddy
Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram was arrested as he was not cooperating with the investigating agencies, Union Minister of State for Home G Kishan Reddy said yesterday.
"There is evidence..," he told PTI.
Reddy said it was the court which will try the case, not the government and law will take its own course.
BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan:
"Law takes in own course. Chidambaram went to the court, but did not get relief. The Congress's act of blaming the central government is not proper as it is working without any vendetta." (PTI)
"The matter is sub-judice. Why is Congress afraid? If he (P Chidambaram) has committed no wrong, there is nothing to worry about. Law will take its own course.": Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi(PTI)
Chidambaram's plea challenging the Delhi High Court verdict dismissing his anticipatory bail plea in the INX Media case would be heard today by a Supreme Court bench headed by Justice R Banumathi.
Chidambaram, who was arrested by the CBI at night on August 21, moved the Supreme Court against the order. The apex court will hear Chidambaram's plea today.
Justice Sunil Gaur, who paved way for Chidambaram's arrest, retires as Delhi HC judge
Justice Sunil Gaur, who paved the way for former finance minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram's arrest in the INX Media case by dismissing his anticipatory bail plea, retired as a Delhi High Court judge yesterday.
He had also passed an order clearing the decks for prosecution of top Congress leaders, including Sonia and Rahul Gandhi, in the National Herald case. (PTI)
What has happened so far
>August 20, 2019: HC dismisses the anticipatory bail pleas of P Chidambaram. It also declines his request to stay the order for three days to enable him to move an appeal in the Supreme Court.
>August 21, 2019: P Chidambaram files appeal against HC judgement in the SC. His lawyers try to get the matter listed for hearing on the same day. However, SC refuses urgent listing and the matter is listed for hearing on August 23. The CBI arrests the Congress leader at night.
>August 22, 2019: P Chidambaram produced before a Delhi court which sends him to four-day CBI custody.
Chidambaram makes submissions after his request allowed by court
A request that former Union minister P Chidambaram, arrested in the INX media case, be allowed to make a brief submission was granted by a Delhi court, despite strong objection from the CBI.
"On June 6, 2018, please ask for the transcript.. there is no question which has not been answered. The allegation of USD 5 million whatever was never put before me. Only question. They only asked if I had a foreign (bank) account, I said no. I was then asked if my son had (foreign bank account) to which I said yes 'My son has with the RBI's permission'," he told the court. (PTI)
Update:
Supreme Court bench of Justice R Banumathi and Justice AS Bopanna will hear tomorrow pleas of former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram filed against the Delhi High Court’s order rejecting his anticipatory bail plea in cases of CBI and ED. (ANI)
Security has been beefed up at CBI Headquarters in New Delhi.
Update:
Chidambaram's family can meet him for 30 minutes daily.
JUST IN |
Special CBI Court sends former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram to CBI custody till August 26 in theINX Media case
Update:
The judge has arrived in the courtroom and is signing the order. It is expected to be read out soon.
Update:
P Chidambaram's plea against the CBI is listed for tomorrow in the Supreme Court, while the petition against the ED is listed for August 27.
Update:
Supreme Court to hear P Chidambaram's petition against the Enforcement Directorate on August 27, whereas his petition against the CBI would be heard tomorrow.
Meanwhile, earlier, Karti Chidamaram had tweeted:
It’s a privilege to hear Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi in court.Master class. They should video record all court proceedings. Will be most useful to all students of law, particularly those interested in court craft.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta arguing for CBI, earlier today:
We are merely seeking court’s permission to interrogate the accused further. It’s a serious case involving intelligent people.
P Chidambaram in Court:
Please look at the questions and answers, there are no questions which I have not answered, please read the transcript.They askedif I have bank account abroad, I said no, they asked if my son has an account abroad I said yes.
Just In |
The special CBI court has reserved its order on an application of the agency seeking five day remand of former Finance Minister P Chidambaram.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, arguing for CBI:
Right to interrogate is my duty, duty to the nation under the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC ). We are merely seeking court’s permission to interrogate the accused further.
Update:
When P Chidambaram said in court he wants to speak, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta objected andsaid he is being represented here by two senior advocates. Abhishek Manu Singhvi said there is Delhi HC Judgment that allows the accused to make a representation on his behalf. (ANI)
Abhishek Manu Singhvi for P Chidambaram:
Non cooperation is if probe agency calls me five times and I don’t go, non cooperation is not giving the answer they like to hear. They called P Chidambaram once, and he went. Where is non cooperation?
Abhishek Manu Singhvi:
CBI’s entire case is based on Indrani Mukherjea's evidence and a case diary.
Chidambaram's legal team in the special court:
This case has nothing to do with evidence but with something else. If a Judge has taken seven months to deliver the judgement (Delhi HC judgment rejecting anticipatory bail), then is that the protected umbrella Chidambaram got? We are aggrieved.
Kapil Sibal, representing Chidambaram in the special court:
Last night, CBI said that they wanted to interrogate Chidambaram. They did not start the interrogation till 12.00 pm (today) and asked him only 12 questions. By now, they should know what questions to ask. The questions had nothing to do with Chidambaram.
Kapil Sibal, representing Chidambaram in the special court:
Investigation is complete as a draft chargesheet is ready. Sanction was sought. Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approval is given by six government secretaries. None of them have been arrested. This is a case of documentary evidence. He (Chidambaram) has never skipped an interrogation.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has told the special court that Chidambaram’s custodial interrogation is necessary to unearth the quid pro quo and the larger conspiracy. The agency has also said that the money trail in the case has to be probed.
Kapil Sibal, representing Chidambaram in the special court:
The accused in this case is Karti Chidambaram, was granted regular bail by the Delhi High Court in March 2018. His challenges in the Supreme Court were not interfered. Other accused also got bail. Peter and Indrani Mukerjea are on default bail.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing CBI in the special court:
This is a classic case of money laundering. We are at the pre-chargesheet stage, material is with him, he remained non cooperative.
CBI has informed the court that a non-bailable warrant was issued and on that basis Chidambaram’s arrest was made.
INX Media case: Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing CBI in the special court: Right to silence is constitutional right and I have no issue, but he is non cooperative, he was evasive to questioning.
JUST IN:
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta arguing for CBI in the special court has moved an application seeking a 5-day custody of P Chidambaram.
JUST IN:
P Chidambaram has reached the CBI special court.
Former union minister P Chidambaram is being taken to the special court by the CBI.
News18reported that the CBI is likely to seek a 14-day custody for Chidambaram.
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee:
Sometimes the process is incorrect. I am not talking about legality, but Chidambaram is a senior politician, he is a former finance and home minister. The way his matter has been handled, that is very depressing. That is very bad and sad as well.
