New Delhi: Congress leader P Chidambaram was asked Tuesday to mention in the Supreme Court tomorrow his appeal for urgent hearing against the Delhi High Court order which dismissed his anticipatory bail plea in the corruption and money laundering cases related to the INX Media scam.
Chidambaram and a battery of his lawyers were in hectic discussions after the Delhi High Court dismissed his anticipatory bail plea in the INX media scam.
Senior advocates Kapil Sibal, Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Salman Khurshid rushed to the apex court following the high court order.
Justice Sunil Gaur denied relief to Chidambaram.
"Both the petitions (in CBI and ED case) are dismissed," said Justice Gaur.
After the court pronounced the order, senior advocate Dayan Krishnan, appearing for Chidambaram, sought stay on the operation of the order for three days, to which the court said that it will consider the request and will pass order on it.
HIGHLIGHTS:
- Senior lawyer Kapil Sibal, representing P Chidambaram says, "We will mention the matter before the Supreme Court tomorrow morning"
- Chidambaram has moved the Supreme Court for an urgent hearing of his anticipatory bail petition after the Delhi High Court rejected his petition
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Chidambaram discussed with senior advocate Kapil Sibal the situation after Delhi High Court dismissed his anticipatory bail plea in the corruption and money laundering cases related to the INX Media scandal
During the arguments, both the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate had opposed Chidambaram's plea on the ground that his custodial interrogation was required as he was evasive during questioning.
Both the probe agencies had contended that during Chidambaram's tenure as finance minister, FIPB clearance was granted to the media group for receiving overseas funds of Rs 305 crore in 2007.
ED contended that the companies in which money was transferred are directly or indirectly controlled by Chidambaram's son, Karti, and they have a reason to believe that the FIPB approval was granted to INX Media on his son's intervention.
The high court had on July 25, 2018, granted interim protection from arrest to Chidambaram in both the cases and it was extended from time to time.
The senior Congress leader's role had come under the scanner of various investigating agencies in the Rs 3,500-crore Aircel-Maxis deal and the INX Media case involving Rs 305 crore.
It was during his tenure as finance minister in the UPA-I government that clearances from the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) were given to the two ventures.
Chronology of the INX Media case
- 15 May 2017: CBI files FIR, alleging irregularities in Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance to INX Media for receiving overseas funds to the tune of Rs 305 crore in 2007 when Karti’s father P Chidambaram was the Union Finance Minister
- 16 June 2017: The Foreigner Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) and Bureau of Immigration, under Union Home Ministry, issues look out circular (LOC) against Karti
- 10 Aug 2017: Madras HC stays the LOCs issued against Karti and four others holding that they were prima facie “unwarranted”
- 14 Aug 2017: The Supreme Court stays Madras HC order staying Centre’s LOC issued against Karti
- 18 Aug 2017: SC asks Karti to appear before CBI on August 23
- 11 Sept 2017: CBI tells SC it has furnished details in a sealed cover on the probe about “possible transactions” in foreign countries and 25 alleged offshore properties of Karti Chidambaram
- 22 Sept 2017: CBI tells SC that Karti was prevented from travelling abroad as he was allegedly closing several of his foreign bank accounts
- 9 Oct 2017: Karti seeks SC’s nod to visit the United Kingdom to get his daughter admitted at the Cambridge University and expresses willingness to undertake that he would not visit any bank there
- 9 Oct 2017: P Chidambaram tells SC that the BJP-led government has been carrying on a “politically-motivated vendetta” against him and his son
- 20 Nov 2017: SC allows Karti to visit UK for daughter’s admission
- 8 Dec 2017: Karti moves SC challenging the summons issued by the CBI against him in the Aircel-Maxis deal case
- 31 Jan 2018: SC remands back to the Madras HC, the pleas relating to issuance of two LOCs against Karti and others
- 16 Feb 2018: Karti’s CA S Bhaskararaman arrested for allegedly assisting him to manage his “ill-gotten wealth” in India and abroad
- 28 Feb 2018: Karti arrested by CBI at Chennai aiport and brought to Delhi. Delhi court sends him to one-day police custody
- 23 March 2018: Karti gets bail after 23 days in jail
- 25 July 2018: The high court grants interim protection from arrest to P Chidambaram
- 11 Oct 2018: The ED attaches assets worth Rs 54 crore of Karti Chidambaram in India, UK and Spain in connection with the INX Media money laundering case, an action termed “bizarre” by him
- 11 July 2019: Jailed-media baron Indrani Mukerjea turned approver in the case. She accepted the conditions put on her before a judge
- 1 Aug 2019: ED asks Karti to vacate Jor Bagh house in New Delhi, which was earlier attached by the agency
- 20 Aug 2019: Delhi HC rejects bail applications of P Chidambaram
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