INX Media Case: Supreme Court Grants Bail to P Chidambaram

Former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram has got a big relief in the INX Media money laundering case. The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted him bail in the case filed by the ED.
INX Media Case: Supreme Court Grants Bail to P Chidambaram

Former Union Minister P Chidambaram has got Conditional bail from the Supreme Court today after 107 days in Enforcement Directorate custody in the INX Media case. Chidambaram has been in ED custody since October 17. After getting bail in both the CBI and ED case, Chidambaram can now come out of jail soon. While delivering the verdict, the Supreme Court said that during this time he would not try to contact any witnesses. Apart from this, they will not be able to travel abroad without permission. Chidambaram will not give any public statement or interview related to the case.

The bench headed by Justice R Banumathi reserved the judgment on 28 November on the appeal filed by Chidambaram, who challenged the Delhi High Court's 15 November decision and refused to grant him bail in the case. During the arguments, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) had claimed in the apex court that the 74-year-old former finance minister is maintaining substantial influence over key witnesses in the case even while in custody, to which Chidambaram had said that his career was blamed by baseless allegations. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the ED, opposed his bail plea, stating that economic crimes like money laundering are serious as they not only affect the economy of the country but also shake people's confidence in the system, especially when it is done by those in power.

Senior advocates Kapil Sibal and AM Singhvi, representing the former Union Finance Minister, responded to Mehta's protest, stating that there was no evidence directly or indirectly linking Chidambaram with the alleged crime nor to show it. During the hearing, Kapil Sibal said that P Chidambaram had become kingpin due to Karthi's father. If the son committed the crime, should the father be sent to jail? After this, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said that it is not that P Chidambaram is an innocent person who has been jailed. Tushar Mehta said that the matter is not limited to INX Media only, there are other companies that have applied for FIPB (Foreign Investment Promotion Board) approval.

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