Supreme Court granted bail to Chidambaram in CBI's INX media corruption case

Chidambaram cannot go abroad without lower court approval and will have to appear when CBI calls for interrogation.

However, Chidambaram is currently in ED custody and will have to remain in jail

(PTI) New Delhi, October 22, 2019, Tuesday

The Supreme Court has granted bail to former finance minister P Chidambaram in an INX media corruption case filed by the CBI. The Supreme told the CBI that there was no evidence that Chidambaram would flee abroad or be present in the trial. However, Chidambaram could not come out even though he was granted bail in the CBI case as the ED has taken him into custody in the money laundering case.

The Supreme Court also rejected the CBI's argument in which it said that Chidambaram had tried to influence the two witnesses. The Supreme Court has said that details of when, where and how Chidambaram met the witnesses were not released by the CBI.

The Supreme Court granted P Chidambaram bail under certain conditions. P Chidambaram cannot go abroad without the approval of the lower court. He will have to cooperate in the investigation. Whenever the CBI calls for an inquiry, they will have to appear before the CBI. Chidambaram will have to submit his passport to the lower court.

The apex court further said that the decision will not affect the ongoing cases against Chidambaram. The apex court also accepted the defense's argument that Chidambaram had been in jail for the last two months.

It is worth mentioning that the CBI arrested Chidambaram on August 21, 2019 in an INX media corruption case filed on May 15, 2017. He is accused of irregularities in allowing Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) to receive INX Media Group foreign funds of Rs 305 crore in 2007 during his tenure as finance minister.

A bench headed by Justice R Banumati said that the CBI's argument that Chidambaram had influenced the witnesses and that he would be more affected after his bail could not prevent us from granting him bail. The bench also included Justice AS Bopanna, Rishikesh Roy. The bench rejected the Delhi High Court's September 30 verdict.

The Supreme Court rejected the argument that economic criminals flee abroad was a national phenomenon

(PTI) New Delhi, Ta. 22

The Supreme Court has refused to accept the CBI's argument that the foreign offenders of economic offenders have become a national phenomenon as economic offenders including Vijay Mallya have fled abroad. The Supreme Court said that not everyone can be linked to economic offenders who have previously fled abroad. The apex court said Chidambaram could not be denied bail on the basis of the argument of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who was present on behalf of the CBI.