A special CBI court has allowed the Enforcement Directorate to interrogate the Congress era Finance Minister P Chidambaram inside the Tihar jail where he is currently lodged. Chidambaram and his son Karti are under ED investigation for their alleged involvement in the INX Media scam.
As per reports, Delhi Court has allowed ED to arrest him with an option to interrogate P Chidambaram for 30 minutes tomorrow.
A Delhi Court allows Enforcement Directorate (ED) to arrest Congress leader P Chidambaram with an option to interrogate him first. https://t.co/PAfVOVK81V
— ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2019
The ED had requested to interrogate Chidambaram in the court but the Court said that it would not be dignified if the ED first interrogates him and then arrests him in full public view.
A Delhi Court told Enforcement Directorate (ED) “It will not be dignified if you interrogate and arrest him (P Chidambaram) here in public view”. Court said this after ED had earlier requested to interrogate and arrest him in the court. https://t.co/Q5VCu5Lh2z
— ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2019
ED is likely to interrogate the Congress minister tomorrow morning. The special judge has reportedly given ED the option to either interrogate Chidambaram inside Tihar, take him into their custody or interrogate him inside the court premises.
Yesterday, a Delhi court had reserved the order on the Enforcement Directorate’s plea seeking to arrest and interrogate former finance minister P. Chidambaram in the INX Media money laundering case.
The Enforcement Directorate had sought Delhi court’s permission on Monday, October 14, to arrest former finance minister P Chidambaram in the INX Media money laundering case. He is currently lodged in Tihar after the CBI court extended the former Union Minister’s judicial custody till October 17, 2019.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the agency, told special judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar that there is a finding by the Supreme Court that custodial interrogation of Chidambaram is necessary.
Mehta said that money laundering is a separate offence and moved an application for Chidambaram’s arrest and remand.
The plea was vehemently opposed by senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Chidambaram, who said that the CBI has already taken remand and ED has no ground since the offence is same. Sibal had also opposed interrogation inside court premises citing ‘dignity of court proceedings’.
The ED had on October 11, Friday moved a plea seeking production warrant of the senior Congress leader. The probe agency said in its plea that it requires custodial interrogation of Mr Chidambaram in the money laundering case related to INX Media.
P Chidambaram has been in custody since August 21 and is currently lodged in the Tihar jail. He is under the scanner of CBI and the Enforcement Directorate in the INX Media case in which he is accused of misusing his position as India’s finance minister and granting several clearances to the INX Media company.
Chidambaram has moved to the Supreme Court seeking bail in the INX Media case. The CBI has been objecting his bail on the ground that he might influence witnesses.
