Chandan Goswami and Meera Emmanuel.Judge Sumit Anand of the Patiala House Court has directed that Karti Chidambaram be sent to one day police custody, following his arrest this morning by the CBI..The order was passed in open court following arguments made for nearly an hour. The CBI produced Karti before the Court, in the evening at around 4.45 pm..He has been arrested for his alleged involvement in the INX money laundering case. In July 2017, the CBI had issued a Lookout Circular (LOC) against Karti amidst investigation in the case..The CBI has alleged that Karti aided INX Media in obtaining Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approvals by exercising illegal influence between 2007 and 2008, during which time his father, P Chidambaram was the Union Finance Minister..The LOC had in turn prevented Karti from travelling abroad, constraining him to approach the Court on several occasions when he required to travel..Recently, the Madras High Court conditionally allowed Karti to travel abroad for business purposes. The interim order laid down conditions subject to which Karti was permitted to travel, and further directed that he return to India by February 28 i.e. today..In a dramatic turn of events today, the CBI arrested Karti as he landed at the Chennai airport, following which he was flown to Delhi for his production before the CBI court..A battery of senior lawyers, including Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Dayan Krishnan and Mohit Mathur appeared to represent Karti at the hearing today..Singhvi expressed strong objections to the remand application, stating that the averments made by the CBI in the application are bizzare..In particular, Singhvi argued that averments by the CBI alleging that Karti had not cooperated with the agency was incorrect and bizzare. He argued that Karti was present for answering to the authorities as and when he was called on by the authorities. To state otherwise would amount to a miserable distortion of facts. Further, Karti had not fled the country, as previously apprehended by the authorities..Rather, it was contended that the arrest in itself is malafide because no fresh summons were issued to Karti prior to his arrest. His arguments indicated that there was a violation of Article 21 as well as elementary common sense and fairness in the arrest. It was argued that arrest should not be used in a routine manner and further that it must adhere to the guidelines as postulated by courts from time to time..The CBI however contended that they have reasonable apprehensions to place Karti under arrest. Singhvi countered this by arguing that Karti only left abroad with the prior leave of the Court..After hearing the arguments, the CBI Special Judge Sumit Anand sent Karti to one day police custody..Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi spoke to media outside the Patiala Court. He summarized the arguments and the order of Judge Sumeet Anand..Singhvi said “the order gives a remand ending at 12.30 tomorrow“.In a lighter note, he (Karti Chidambaram) is not a ‘Hindustan Leaver’ but a ‘Hindustan Returner’.Karti was interrogated by the CBI for about 30-40 hours, on summons in August 2017.The last summons in this case was 6 months ago.Every-time I (Karti Chidambaram) have been called, I have been available.No ground for arrest was furnished till now. We hope and trust that the CBI would satisfy itself within the time available and not unnecessarily deprive a persons rights.
Chandan Goswami and Meera Emmanuel.Judge Sumit Anand of the Patiala House Court has directed that Karti Chidambaram be sent to one day police custody, following his arrest this morning by the CBI..The order was passed in open court following arguments made for nearly an hour. The CBI produced Karti before the Court, in the evening at around 4.45 pm..He has been arrested for his alleged involvement in the INX money laundering case. In July 2017, the CBI had issued a Lookout Circular (LOC) against Karti amidst investigation in the case..The CBI has alleged that Karti aided INX Media in obtaining Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approvals by exercising illegal influence between 2007 and 2008, during which time his father, P Chidambaram was the Union Finance Minister..The LOC had in turn prevented Karti from travelling abroad, constraining him to approach the Court on several occasions when he required to travel..Recently, the Madras High Court conditionally allowed Karti to travel abroad for business purposes. The interim order laid down conditions subject to which Karti was permitted to travel, and further directed that he return to India by February 28 i.e. today..In a dramatic turn of events today, the CBI arrested Karti as he landed at the Chennai airport, following which he was flown to Delhi for his production before the CBI court..A battery of senior lawyers, including Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Dayan Krishnan and Mohit Mathur appeared to represent Karti at the hearing today..Singhvi expressed strong objections to the remand application, stating that the averments made by the CBI in the application are bizzare..In particular, Singhvi argued that averments by the CBI alleging that Karti had not cooperated with the agency was incorrect and bizzare. He argued that Karti was present for answering to the authorities as and when he was called on by the authorities. To state otherwise would amount to a miserable distortion of facts. Further, Karti had not fled the country, as previously apprehended by the authorities..Rather, it was contended that the arrest in itself is malafide because no fresh summons were issued to Karti prior to his arrest. His arguments indicated that there was a violation of Article 21 as well as elementary common sense and fairness in the arrest. It was argued that arrest should not be used in a routine manner and further that it must adhere to the guidelines as postulated by courts from time to time..The CBI however contended that they have reasonable apprehensions to place Karti under arrest. Singhvi countered this by arguing that Karti only left abroad with the prior leave of the Court..After hearing the arguments, the CBI Special Judge Sumit Anand sent Karti to one day police custody..Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi spoke to media outside the Patiala Court. He summarized the arguments and the order of Judge Sumeet Anand..Singhvi said “the order gives a remand ending at 12.30 tomorrow“.In a lighter note, he (Karti Chidambaram) is not a ‘Hindustan Leaver’ but a ‘Hindustan Returner’.Karti was interrogated by the CBI for about 30-40 hours, on summons in August 2017.The last summons in this case was 6 months ago.Every-time I (Karti Chidambaram) have been called, I have been available.No ground for arrest was furnished till now. We hope and trust that the CBI would satisfy itself within the time available and not unnecessarily deprive a persons rights.
