Bail but no release! In spite of SC granting bail to INX media accused, Chidambaram to remain in ED's custody till October 24

New Delhi, October 22: The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted bail to the Congress's P Chidambaram in the INX Media corruption case, but he will not be released as he remains in the custody of the Enforcement Directorate for questioning.

 

Chidambaram, arrested by the CBI on August 21, had been in judicial custody in Delhi's Tihar jail until last week, when he was handed over to the Enforcement Directorate. The 74-year-old Congress leader has been granted bail in the CBI case but will remain in the Enforcement Directorate's custody till October 24.

 

 

"The Congress leader can be released if he is not required in any other case", the court said, adding that he will have to give a bond of Rs. 1 lakh. The top court also said the bail granted to Chidambaram will not have a bearing on any other case. The three judge bench made it clear that Chidambaram will not leave the country without prior permission of the court and make himself available for interrogation as and when called by the probe agency.

 

Chidambaram was in Tihar, Asia's largest prison facility, for more than a month. On October 15, the court allowed the probe agency to question Chidambaram in its custody and allowed home cooked food, a separate cell, a western toilet, spectacles and medicines for the veteran leader.

 

The INX Media case involves allegations that Chidambaram, as Finance Minister of the country, facilitated foreign funding for the company INX Media co-founded by Peter and Indrani Mukherjea in 2007 and his son Karti received kickbacks for it.