INX Media Case: Delhi HC Grants Chidambaram Interim Protection from Arrest by CBI

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Thursday allowed former Union minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram interim protection from arrest by the CBI in INX Media case till July 3.

Earlier, Chidambaram was also granted interim protection from arrest by Enforcement Directorate in the Aircel Maxis case by special CBI judge OP Saini’s court.

Though Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for CBI stated that summons to Chidambaram under “Section 41A of CrPC was issued only for questioning”, the Congress leader had approached the court with an application for an anticipatory bail.

Senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi appeared for Chidambaram while the CBI was represented by ASG Tushar Mehta.

The CBI in its submission before Justice AK Pathak of Delhi HC made a preliminary objection to Chidambaram’s anticipatory bail, stating that the Union Minister “has directly approached the HC without moving the trial court first.”

Chidambaram has also submitted an application with the CBI seeking more time to present himself before the agency on INX media case probe and has asked the agency to call him after June 6.

Judge Saini on Wednesday asked the "Enforcement Directorate not to take any coercive action against Chidambaram till that time."

This was after the former Finance Minister moved his plea for anticipatory bail in the Aircel-Maxis case in which his son Karti Chidambaram was also given interim protection from arrest till July 10.

Sibal stated that the anticipatory bail plea was moved as the ED had summoned Chidambaram to appear before them on June 5.

The CBI and the ED are probing Karti Chidambaram over his alleged involvement in obtaining Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance in the Aircel-Maxis deal. The deal took place when his father P Chidambaram was the Union Finance Minister in 2006.

In relation to Thursday’s order, Karti is also facing probe in the INX Media corruption case. He is accused of getting irregular FIPB clearance for investments up to Rs 305 crore. Karti was arrested from Chennai airport on March 1 this year in the INX Media case. He was later granted bail.