HC refuses Chidambaram bail in INX Media case

NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court on Monday rejected the bail application filed by former finance minister P Chidambaram’s bail petition in the INX Media case, saying that the possibility of the Congress leader influencing witnesses cannot be ruled out.

Chi d a mbaram, 7 4 , was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation 40 days ago from his Jor Bagh house in national capital Delhi in the INX Media case. After being grilled by the CBI for nearly a fortnight, he was sent to Tihar Jail where he has been lodged for the last 25 days.

Solicitor general Tushar Mehta, who argued against Chidambaram’s r e l e a s e , had described the former finance Tushar Mehta had described Chidambaram as a flight risk He reasoned Chidambaram could flee because he was accused of a serious offence and had the money to indefinitely live in another country Justice Suresh Kumar Kait didn’t accept Mehta’s argument. He said there was no evidence that Chidambaram was a flight risk or had tampered with any evidence But the Congress leader, he observed, was an MP and an influential person

JUSTICE SURESH KUMAR KAIT, Delhi high court

minister as a flight risk. Mehta had reasoned that Chidambaram could flee the country because he was accused of a serious offence, figured that he would be convicted and had the money to indefinitely live in

another country.

In his verdict, Justice Suresh Kumar Kait didn’t accept this argument. He said there was no evidence that Chidambaram was a flight risk or had tampered