INX Media case- Noose to tighten, arrest soon? P Chidambaram denied interim bail, CBI reaches his home in Delhi

New Delhi, August 20: In a major slam to the senior Congress leader P Chidambaram in the INX media case, the Delhi High Court today has rejected Chidambaram’s request for anticipatory bail was opening up doors of his arrest by the CBI, who arrived at his residence within no time for basic procedures.

 

 

The court said bail cannot be granted just because Chdambaram was a parliamentarian. "Facts of the case prima facie reveal that the petitioner is the kingpin, that is, the key conspirator in this case," the judge said.

 

While, Chidambaram's legal head, led by Kapil Sibal, is slated to challenge the order in the Supreme Court, he has been questioned several times in the case, which involves alleged kickbacks received by his son Karti Chidambaram in exchange for allowing INX Media, a television company, to receive foreign funds to the tune of Rs. 305 crore in 2007.

At the time, Chidambaram was the finance minister in the UPA government headed by Manmohan Singh. Investigative agencies alleged that he was instrumental in providing government clearance to INX Media to receive the funds. The former minister has however flagrantly denied any irregularities in the matter, saying he was being targeted by the BJP-led Central government for political reasons.

 

Meanwhile, son Karti Chidambaram, who is also being investigated by the Enforcement Directorate and the CBI, has been accused of getting the government clearance for INX Media with his father's influence. Last year, he was arrested in the case and remained in custody for 23 days.