The Delhi High Court today granted interim relief against arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to Karti Chidambaram, in connection with the INX Media bribery case..Appearing for Chidambaram, Senior Counsel Kapil Sibal argued that due procedure is not being followed by the authorities and that Article 19 is being violated. He argued that a lookout notice was issued even before the summons was served on Chidambaram..He further stated that his client was neither a director nor a member of Advantage Strategic Consulting Pvt. Ltd., the company which is accused of giving 10 lakh rupees to six FIPB officials for influencing approvals related to INX media..Representing ED, ASG Tushar Mehta stated that there is substantial evidence that there was a clear connection between Karti Chidambaram and Advantage Strategic Consulting. He also informed the Court that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) would be seeking an extension of custodial interrogation for six days, and sought time for filing a reply in the bail application..The Division Bench of Justices S Muralidhar and IS Mehta, while granting the interim relief, directed Karti Chidambaram to surrender his passport to the ED. The Bench also directed him to appear for interrogation before the ED as and when required..The Court also stated that the interim protection against arrest will only hold good till the next date of hearing. The matter will now be heard on March 20.
The Delhi High Court today granted interim relief against arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to Karti Chidambaram, in connection with the INX Media bribery case..Appearing for Chidambaram, Senior Counsel Kapil Sibal argued that due procedure is not being followed by the authorities and that Article 19 is being violated. He argued that a lookout notice was issued even before the summons was served on Chidambaram..He further stated that his client was neither a director nor a member of Advantage Strategic Consulting Pvt. Ltd., the company which is accused of giving 10 lakh rupees to six FIPB officials for influencing approvals related to INX media..Representing ED, ASG Tushar Mehta stated that there is substantial evidence that there was a clear connection between Karti Chidambaram and Advantage Strategic Consulting. He also informed the Court that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) would be seeking an extension of custodial interrogation for six days, and sought time for filing a reply in the bail application..The Division Bench of Justices S Muralidhar and IS Mehta, while granting the interim relief, directed Karti Chidambaram to surrender his passport to the ED. The Bench also directed him to appear for interrogation before the ED as and when required..The Court also stated that the interim protection against arrest will only hold good till the next date of hearing. The matter will now be heard on March 20.
