The Supreme Court has rejected Congress leader P Chidambaram’s anticipatory bail on the lines that it would ‘hamper probe’. The top court had said that anticipatory bail must be exercised sparingly in cases of economic offences.
New Delhi: The Apex court has rejected Congress leader and former Finance Minister P Chidambaram’s anticipatory bail stating that at this stage it would “hamper probe”.
"Anticipatory bail has to be exercised sparingly in cases of economic offences. Considering the facts and circumstances, this is not a fit case to grant anticipatory bail," the Supreme Court said in what comes as a setback for Chidambaram, who has spent 15 days in CBI custody.
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The top court further said that the investigating agency has to be given sufficient freedom to conduct its probe, and the grant of anticipatory bail at this stage would only hamper investigation.
The Enforcement Directorate has accused Chidambaram of money-laundering in the case involving INX Media, which is being investigated by the CBI.
The CBI accused Chidambaram of misusing his position as finance minister of the country in 2007 while facilitating a huge infusion of foreign funds in INX Media at the instance of his son Karti Chidambaram.
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The allegations against Chidambaram and his son are based on the information from INX Media co-founders Peter Mukerjea and Indrani Mukerjea, who are currently jailed in Mumbai in connection with the murder of Indrani's daughter Sheena Bora.
Karti Chidambaram, who allegedly received kickbacks for his role in securing the foreign funds, was arrested in 2018 and released after 23 days.
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court had extended Chidambaram's CBI custody for two days after his lawyer said the 74-year-old leader should not be sent to Tihar jail, where arrested persons are taken when they do not get bail after police custody expires.
The Rs. 3,500-crore Aircel-Maxis deal involves a clearance of $800 million foreign investment to the company in 2006, allegedly in exchange for kickbacks.
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