Suspend Senior Designation of Nalini and P Chidambaram, Journo writes to CJI

A senior journalist associated with The Pioneer, J Gopikrishnan, has written to Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi praying for the suspension of the Senior Designations of P Chidambaram and his wife Nalini Chidambaram..Both Nalini and P Chidambaram are accused in various matters pursued by agencies like the Income Tax Department, the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). These cases relate to corruption, black money and money laundering..In his two-page letter, Gopikrishnan cites instances when Congress leader P Chidambaram appeared in cases before trial courts in his Senior Advocate attire while his lawyers, Senior Advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi argued for his Bail. This, Gopikrishnan avers, is “clear misuse of holding Senior Advocate Designation” by an accused under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act..Gopikrishnan alleges that P Chidambaram “appears to get undue advantages from the 2G Court”, noting that he was given interim protection by the trial court Judge OP Saini merely days after the Supreme Court had directed that the CBI and ED probe into the Aircel-Maxis case be concluded within six months..Gopikrishnan notes that Chidambaram managed to secure interim protection from arrest as many as seven times from Judge Saini after being present at the bail hearings in his Senior gown. Chidambaram has also been granted interim protection from the Delhi High Court in the INX Media Bribery case..Investigating agencies and judges cannot work freely when one of the accused is a Senior Advocate, Gopikrishnan implies in his letter..“How can Investigating agencies and Judges work freely when an Accused is a Senior Advocate title holding person?”.He has also cited the instance of Nalini Chidambaram securing protection from arrest from the Madras High Court in the Saradha Chit fund even though the chargesheet in the case has been filed before a trial Court in Kolkata..“She obtained interim protection of arrest from Madras High Court’s Bench headed by Justice GK Ilanthiraiyan who ordered Nalini Chidambaram to appear before a local Chennai Court to take bail. Madras High Court, which is widely known as domain of Chidambaram family passed this Order at a special sitting on a second Saturday. With the order from High Court, same day by late evening, Nalini Chidambaram was granted Interim Protection for fifteen days by a Chennai Egmore Metropolitan Magistrate’s Court by accepting Rs 10000 as sureties. Respected Chief Justice of India, such kind of benevolence from Courts expected for a common citizen? (sic)”.Gopikrishnan has requested CJI Gogoi to suspend the Senior Designation of the two Senior Advocates until the trial against them have concluded. He has also requested the CJI to consider the implementation of an Annual Affidavit to be filed by all Senior Advocates disclosing cases against them..Read the letter here: