SC grants interim protection from arrest in ED case to P Chidambaram till Aug 26

Chidambaram

Published : Aug 23, 2019, 7:45 AM IST

Updated : Aug 23, 2019, 7:04 PM IST

13:23 August 23

SC grants interim protection to Chidambaram in ED case; no relief in CBI matter

Congress leader P Chidambaram was on Friday granted protection from arrest by the Supreme Court in the money laundering case lodged by the Enforcement Directorate in the INX Media case.

However, Chidambaram will continue to be in custody as the apex court, did not intervene in the CBI case in which he has been sent for custodial interrogation of the agency till August 26.

A bench comprising justices R Banumathi and A S Bopanna posted both the matters for hearing on Monday, August 26.

The hearing witnessed exchange of words between prosecution counsel and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and senior advocate and Chidambaram's party colleagues Kapil Sibal and A M Singhvi.

SG Mehta vehemently opposed the order granting protection from arrest to Chidambaram in the money laundering case registered by the ED.

13:20 August 23

After the order was passed, SG Tushar Mehta wanted to give some documents to Court to read that were collected by Enforcement Directorate but Sibal and Singhvi objected saying this had previously happened in the High Court.
SC asks ED to keep the report ready and place before it on Monday.
Supreme Court acknowledged in its order that Chidambaram has always been cooperating with the investigation in the ED matter.

12:59 August 23

Former finance minister Chidambaram will be in CBI custody till Monday

Both CBI and Enforcement Directorate matters to be heard again August 26 in Supreme Court.
Chidambaram is in CBI custody till August 26.

12:55 August 23

Supreme Court grants interim protection from arrest to former Union Minister P Chidambaram, till August 26 in connection with INX media case probed by Enforcement Directorate.

12:41 August 23

S-G Tushar Mehta arguing on behalf of ED

17 foreign accounts have links to INX Media case: S-G
Evidence were found in a digital format. There were search operations conducted. The money which was given was according to us is illegal, illegitimate and transferred through money laundering: Mehta
Shell companies were created to launder money from one company to other company. Shell companies were not created only in India but also in abroad. I have proofs which I can present before the court. I am saying this with responsibility: Mehta
The people who were found to be the owners of shell companies were connected to the accused: Mehta
Have proof to show that why custodial remand was needed: Mehta
There are certain individuals whose background stature is such from whom we can not get out information till the protective umbrella has been removed: Mehta
Section 19 of the PMLA gives ED the power to arrest a person on two conditions: ED should have good reasons, and should be able to record the arrest: Mehta

12:37 August 23

Delhi HC judgment is verbatim of what is in the note: Sibal

Delhi HC judgment is verbatim of what is in the note. Comma for comma, full stop for full stop. Everything is a copy, so the note becomes the basis of denying bail to Chidambaram: Sibal

12:33 August 23

Opposing Chidambaram's bail plea on concrete grounds: S-G

After arguments were over, Solicitor General gave a note to Justice Gaur, the HC judge. We were not given chance to reply on that: Kapil Sibal
Don't make false statements, I didn’t give it after the arguments were over: SG Tushar Mehta
Have stated on oath: Sibal

12:27 August 23

In Supreme Court, Kapil Sibal said: "Chidambaram's fundamental right to access to justice has been frustrated by the way in which the plea against Delhi HC verdict was not heard despite moving the SC on time."
How can ED note in HC be the basis to deny bail: Kapil Sibal
Entire ED notice has been pasted word to word in Delhi HC order. How can I get anticipatory bail?: Sibal
ED submitted a note in the Delhi HC after the judgement had been reserved and it also influenced the final order: Sibal

12:16 August 23

Chidambaram petition against remand to be heard on Monday

Appeal filed by P Chidambaram in Supreme Court against the Delhi High Court order in CBI case to be heard on August 26.

12:13 August 23

Hearing begins in Supreme Court

Hearing begins in Supreme Court on petitions filed by former Union Minister P Chidambaram against the Delhi High Court’s order rejecting his anticipatory bail plea in connection with INX media case probed by CBI and ED.

12:04 August 23

Congress Leader Kabil Sibal arrives in court

Congress leader Kapil Sibal and senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi has arrived in the court as Supreme Court is set to shortly hear Congress leader P Chidambaram's plea challenging the Delhi HC verdict dismissing his anticipatory bail plea in the INX Media case.

09:37 August 23

"CBI officials grilled P. Chidambaram for at least two hours on Thursday night after he was sent to CBI remand till August 26," sources said.

"The questioning were mostly on FIPB and FDI and Chidambaram's involvement into it."

07:32 August 23

P Chidambaram's plea to be heard by SC bench headed by Justice R Banumathi

New Delhi: Congress leader P Chidambaram's plea challenging the Delhi High Court verdict dismissing his anticipatory bail plea in the INX Media case would be heard on Friday by the Supreme Court bench headed by Justice R Banumathi.

Chidambaram, who was arrested by the CBI on Wednesday in the case, had approached the top court against the high court's August 20 verdict.

A special anti-corruption court sent former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram to CBI custody till August 26.

In a 10-page order, Special CBI Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar conceded CBI's plea for custodial interrogation of Chidambaram, observing that considering all facts and circumstances of the case, police remand is justified.

The court, however, allowed family members and lawyers to meet the Congress leader for 30 minutes every day and that a medical examination should be done every 48 hours.

The Congress leader was arrested after he failed to get protection on Wednesday from the Supreme Court which decided to hear on Friday his plea seeking stay of the high court order.

His plea would be heard in the apex court by a bench comprising Justices R Banumathi and A S Bopanna.

On Wednesday, Registrar (Judicial) of the apex court had informed Chidambaram's lawyers that Chief Justice of India (CJI) Ranjan Gogoi has listed the matter for hearing on Friday.

Chidambaram, who was home minister and finance minister in the UPA government from 2004-2014, had sought a stay on the Delhi High Court's August 20 judgement which had dismissed his anticipatory bail plea, paving the way for his arrest in cases related to the INX Media scam.

The cases have been lodged by the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Repeated attempts were made by his lawyers Wednesday for seeking urgent hearing on Chidambaram's plea the same day itself, but the CJI decided that the case will be heard on Friday.

Also Read: Timeline of events that led to the arrest of Chidambaram