INX Media: CBI Court extends ED custody of P Chidambaram till Oct 30

The Special CBI Court at Rouse Avenue Court Complex today extended the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) custody of former Union Minister P Chidambaram in the INX Media case till October 30..On the expiry of the seven days custody today, the ED had sought an extension Chidambaram’s remand by seven more days..Appearing for the agency, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, submitted before Special Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar that the extension of remand was necessary to confront P Chidambaram with statements of witnesses and other co-conspirators as well as other “clinching” documentary evidence..Mehta stated that interrogation could not be completed in the first seven days because of Chidambaram’s “slow pace” while answering questions..The request for remand was opposed by Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal on the grounds that there was no basis for the extension. He argued that during the period of remand, Chidambaram was not confronted with any witnesses..He also sought the Court’s permission to allow Chidambaram to visit Hyderabad for treatment of his stomach ailment..In this regard, the CBI Court stated that in case of any medical need, P Chidambaram will be immediately taken to AIIMS..The INX Media case pertains to the alleged irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board clearance to INX Media at the time when P Chidambaram was the Finance Minister. It is the case of the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) that P Chidambaram and his son Karti had received illegal gratification from INX Media owners Peter and Indrani Mukherjea for the clearance..The CBI had arrested P Chidambaram on August 21 after his anticipatory bail plea in the case was rejected by the High Court..Chidambaram, who spent a fortnight in police custody after his arrest, was thereafter remanded to judicial custody. His plea for regular bail was rejected by the Special CBI Judge sitting at the Rouse Avenue Court Complex in Delhi. Later, bail was denied by the Delhi High Court as well..Chidambaram was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on October 16. He was granted regular bail in the CBI case by the Supreme Court earlier this week. Today, the High Court issued notice to Enforcement Directorate in Chidambaram’s bail plea in the case.