Court extends Chidambaram’s interim protection from arrest in INX Media case
The Delhi High Court has on Tuesday extended the interim protection of arrest granted to former Union Minister P Chidambaram in the INX Media case till August 1. Justice AK Pathak extended the relief to Chidambaram by another month. The protection was earlier granted till Tuesday.
Chidambaram's anticipatory bail plea had mentioned that the minister was being harassed in the case, in which he was not named. The Congress leader before approaching the high court in connection with the INX Media case, had rushed to a trial court on May 30, for protection from arrest in the Aircel-Maxis case of the Enforcement Directorate.
The senior Congress leader was on May 31 asked by the high court to join interrogations and cooperate in the investigation as and when called by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The CBI had opposed the anticipatory bail plea on the last date of hearing and had said that Chidambaram should have first approached the trial court for relief, instead of the high court.
The CBI had registered an FIR on May 15 last year in connection with the INX Media case, against alleged irregularities in the FIPB clearance to INX Media for receiving overseas funds to the tune of Rs 305 crore in 2007 when Chidambaram was finance minister.
Chidambaram's son Karti Chidambaram was also arrested in the matter on February 28, for allegedly receiving funds to the tune of Rs 10 lakh in the case. He was granted bail on March 23. The other accused in the case include then INX Media Director Indrani Mukerjea and then INX News Director Peter Mukerjea.
