Congress leaders P Chidambaram, Kapil Sibal, Ghulam Nabi Azad, and Ahmed Patel emerged at All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters for a press conference after going underground for nearly 27 hours. The CBI rushed to Chidambaram’s residence shortly after he returned home.
New Delhi: P Chidambaram who was incommunicado emerged at the AICC headquarters in New Delhi and addressed media personnel. For nearly 27 hours, P Chidambaram’s whereabouts were unknown.
Also watch: INX Media Case: Chidambaram’s hand lands in costly hot soup
He left the AICC headquarters soon after making a speech along with other senior Congress leaders, including Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi.
Minutes after the Congress leader reached his house, CBI thronged his abode in Jor Bagh and scaled the walls of the perimeter fence after repeated knocks at the gate did not yield any response.
The arrest of the former Union minister is imminent as ED officials stormed his residence soon after.
Several protesters outside the residence were removed by police personnel.
The former Union minister will reportedly be taken to CBI headquarters.
The former Union minister in the press conference today (August 21) said, "I believe that the foundation of a democracy is liberty... if I am asked to choose between life and liberty, I shall in-hesitantly choose liberty".
The scripted speech also had him utter these words: “In the INX Media case, I have not been accused of any offense, nor has anyone else, including any member of my family been accused of any offense. My lawyers advised me to move the SC. On my behalf, they did so yesterday evening and today. I hope that the investigation agencies will respect the law, he said.
Media reports have stated that the CBI and ED have already set out to arrest in him in connection with the case.
The Delhi high court did not honour his anticipatory-bail plea and the Supreme Court is willing to hear the bail plea in the INX Media case only on Friday, August 23.
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