The Supreme Court has granted bail to former Union finance minister P Chidambaram in the INX media case. But he will continue to stay in Tihar as the ED has custody of him.
Bengaluru: Former Union finance minister P Chidambaram finally got something to cheer about as the Supreme Court granted him bail in the INX media case.
The top court consented to his bail plea after the Delhi high court had denied bail to him.
However, Chidambaram will not get to walk out of Tihar jail as he is in the custody of the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Moments after the verdict, the Congress expressed its happiness, reiterating that human rights have been upheld by the top court.
Also Read: Delhi court allows ED to interrogate Chidambaram for 30 minutes
Kengal Renu, a Congress spokesperson, “The Supreme Court has finally given him justice. Under the Constitution, the right to silence and not incriminating oneself is guaranteed. If ED and IT have proof, they need to submit it in court of law and not keep him under confinement for months at an end. Everyone in innocent until proven guilty.”
On the other hand, the BJP said it has nothing to do with judicial affairs.
Sreeenath Sheshadri, a BJP spokesperson said, “Law takes its own course. This case was posted by the Congress. BJP has no role to play in the case.”
The CBI had registered an FIR on May 15, 2017 alleging irregularities in a Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance granted to INX Media group for receiving overseas funds of Rs 305 crore in 2007, during Chidambaram's tenure as the finance minister.
Thereafter, the ED lodged a money laundering case in this regard in 2017.
The 74-year-old senior Congress leader approached the apex court challenging the September 30 verdict of the high court which had dismissed his bail plea.
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