INX Media: ED seeks custodial interrogation of P Chidambaram, Court issues production warrant

A Special CBI Court today ordered the production of P Chidambaram before Court on October 14 from Tihar Jail in connection with the INX Media case. As per the order, P Chidambaram would be produced before the Rouse Avenue CBI Court on October 14 at 3 pm..The production warrant was issued by a Special CBI Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar after the Enforcement Directorate moved an application before Court seeking the custodial interrogation of Chidambaram..Appearing for ED, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted that since September 9, the Agency has recorded the statement of 12 persons in connection with the case and it was the appropriate time to seek his custody. Mehta added that the custodial interrogation of Chidambaram was necessary to help the Agency unravel the laundering of proceeds of crime which have been parked in foreign countries..Considering the facts and circumstances, the Court allowed the ED’s plea for Chidambaram’s production warrant..Chidambaram was arrested by the CBI in connection with the INX Media case on August 21, a day after the Delhi High Court denied his anticipatory bail plea. Subsequently, Chidambaram’s anticipatory bail plea in the INX Media money laundering case was rejected by the Supreme Court..After the expiry of the maximum time period for police custody, the Court had remanded Chidambaram to judicial custody on September 5. On September 13, Chidambaram’s surrender application in connection with the ED case was dismissed by the CBI Court after the Agency contended that it did want his custodial interrogation at that time. The ED had then clarified that it would move the Court for Chidambaram’s custodial interrogation at the appropriate time..P Chidambaram’s regular bail plea in the CBI case was dismissed by the Delhi High Court on September 30. An appeal against the dismissal is presently pending before the Supreme Court. P Chidambaram’s judicial custody ends on October 17..Read the Order: