The Delhi court on Friday dismissed the petition by former finance minister P Chidambaram, wedged in Tihar jail in the INX Media corruption case, looking to give up in the money laundering case.
Special judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar junked his petition. The Enforcement Directorate on Thursday told the court that Chidambaram’s arrest was essential in the INX Media money laundering case and it will do so at a suitable time.
Chidambaram’s advocate had contended that the ED’s compliance is mala fide and anticipated to make him suffer. Chidambaram, 73, is already in court custody in the INX Media fraud case being probed by the CBI.
ED had told the court that since Chidambaram was already in the legal custody in the CBI case, he was not in a situation to interfere with the proof. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Chidambaram, had said that ED had come to the Congress leader’s house to arrest him on August 20 and 21 but now they do not want to do so just to ensure that he remains in court supervision.
Mehta had argued that firm aspects were necessary to be probed before his custodial examination. The organization requires to interrogate 6 persons before his custodial examination and it was investigating money laundering which reaches beyond this country, he had said.
He had contended that the accused cannot lead the investigation and the order to take him in custody right now will curtail the prudence of probe organization. earlier on August 21, the ‘reasons to believe’ that he was necessary to be in prison existed and it exists even today, Mehta had said, adding that after arresting Chidambaram they would like to tackle him with the proof which has been gathered.
On the 5th of September, Chidambaram was remanded to 14-day judicial custody in the corruption case by the CBI till September 19.
