CBI sees no criminality; SC holds key to Chidambaram's fate

The man at the eye of the 2G storm, home minister P Chidambaram, today offered to resign after meeting with party chief, Sonia Gandhi. Will the Congress sacrifice him to save face? What does the CBI say of the allegations against Chidambaram? Rajdeep Sardesai and Siddharth Zarabi of CNBC-TV18 discuss this new development and the implications of it.

Below is the edited transcript of their comments. Also watch the accompanying video Q: We have seen Pranab Mukherjee meet Sonia Gandhi, we have seen Chidambaram meeting Sonia Gandhi, we understand from sources that Chidambaram has offered to resign. Given all of this political back and forth, does it look like the 2G controversy is going to cost Chidambaram? Sardesai: There is feverish political speculation that the home minister could well be sacrificed. But the dilemma really before the Congress is that if Chidambaram is asked to go, then what about the Prime Minister? What about Pranab Mukherjee who is Chairman of the Empowered Group of Ministers who was looking at 2G related issues? There is a fear within the Congress that if any action is taken against Chidambaram, that could have a domino effect. Additionally, there is still no evidence of the government maintaining any criminality against Chidambaram. These are just allegations and in the realm of speculation for now.
The fear for the government is that if the Supreme Court, on its own initiative tomorrow when the case is heard, decides that the CBI should probe the home minister, then, his position would become untenable. But I think yes, the home minister by pitching the issue so high and even offering his resignation has now put the ball squarely in the court of the Prime Minister and the Congress President. I don