Former Union minister P. Chidambaram, arrested in the INX Media case, on Wednesday approached the Delhi High Court seeking bail. He also challenged the trial court September 5 order remanding him to 14 days of judicial custody in the case till September 19.
The trial court had earlier said that the allegations against the senior Congress leader were serious, therefore, he was remanded to police custody. It said the CBI had apprehensions that the investigation may be hampered by Chidambaram because of his status and position.
The court had also issued directions for keeping Chidambaram in a separate cell in Tihar prison as he was a protectee under Z-security. The trial court also issued notice to the Enforcement Directorate on the former Union minister's plea seeking to surrender in the money laundering case lodged by the agency.
The Congress leader had withdrawn his petition from the Supreme Court challenging the non-bailable warrant issued against him. The apex court had on September 5 dismissed his appeal against the Delhi High Court's August 20 order and denied him anticipatory bail in the money laundering case lodged by ED.
On the same day, another special court granted his and his son Karti anticipatory bail in the Aircel-Maxis cases lodged by CBI and ED.
The CBI had registered an FIR on May 15, 2017, alleging irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board clearance granted to the INX 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 2017.
Chidambaram, who was Union home minister and finance minister during the UPA rule from 2004 to 2014, was arrested by the CBI on August 21 from his Jor Bagh residence.
