Chidambaram's CBI custody in INX Media case to continue till Sep 5, says SC

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday ordered that former finance minister P Chidambaram be kept in CBI custody till it takes a call on September 5 on his anticipatory bail plea in the ED case in connection with the INX media deal.

Following the Supreme Court’s order, a special CBI Court remanded him to CBI custody till September 5. Special CBI Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar was apprised of the top court’s order by Chidambaram’s lawyer who urged him to hear his bail plea in the CBI case on September 5.

Chidambaram was permitted to meet his family -- his son Karti Chidambaram and wife senior advocate Nalini Chidambaram -- in the court room after the proceedings.


While leaving the court room, Chidambaram took a swipe at the government on the declining GDP growth. “Five per cent. Do you know what is 5%? The answer is 5%.”

Another local court will pronounce orders on the anticipatory bail applications of Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram in the Aircel-Maxis case on September 5.

The CBI had arrested Chidambaram and got 13 days custody to interrogate him, but the ED is yet to quiz him. If Chidambaram fails to get any relief from the top court on September 5, he runs the risk of being arrested by the ED even if gets bail from the CBI special judge in the CBI case.

Chidambaram had on Monday offered the court to either stay under house arrest or in CBI custody rather than be sent to judicial custody in Tihar jail. “Keep me (Chidambaram) under house arrest,” senior advocate Kapil Sibal had offered. Sibal had begged the court to not send the 74-year-old to jail.