[dropcap]A[/dropcap] CBI court in Delhi today extended former Union Minister P Chidambaram’s judicial custody till October 17 in INX media case. He is currently lodged in Tihar case.
Chidambaram was produced before the CBI Special Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar. Advocate Amit Mahajan who was appearing for the CBI moved an application for extension of Chidambaram’s judicial custody as it was due to end today.
Chidambaram was arrested by the CBI on August 21 after his anticipatory bail was rejected by the High Court. On September 3, after the expiry of the maximum time period for police custody, special CBI judge Kuhar sent Chidambaram to Tihar Jail under judicial custody.
Earlier today, Chidambaram had also filed an appeal in the Supreme Court against Delhi High Court’s order of September 30 whereby the court refused to grant him regular bail in the INX media case.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Chidambaram, mentioned his plea before the bench Justice N V Ramana who ordered it to be put before the Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi.
In its September 30 order, Delhi High Court Judge Justice Suresh Kumar Kait said that though Chidambaram did not pose a flight risk and also did not have the power to tamper evidence, he had the potential to influence witnesses considering the stature as a senior advocate and a sitting Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament.
The INX Media case involves alleged irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance given to the broadcasting company. An FIR was registered by the CBI in this case on May 15, 2017, whereas the ED lodged a money laundering case next year.
