Cong says govt is waging campaign to defame him

NEW DELHI: The CBI on Friday opposed in the Delhi High Court the bail plea of Congress

leader P Chidambaram in the INX Media corruption case, saying it was "gravest case of economic offences" and the magnitude of financial embezzlement and misuse of high public office disentitles him for any relief.

In its written response to Chidambaram's bail plea, the CBI said the gravity of offences committed by the former finance minister for which he is being investigated does not entitle him to seek any relief as it would not only be against the 'zero tolerance policy on corruption' but would also be setting a very wrong precedence in all corruption cases.

It said this was a clear case of betrayal of public trust at

large and granting the relief to 73-year-old Chidambaram will set a wrong precedent in corruption matters as it was allegedly a clear case of betrayal of public trust.

Chidambaram, who was arrested on August 21 by the CBI from his Jor Bagh residence here, is currently lodged in Tihar Jail under judicial custody till October 3.

His bail plea, in which he has claimed that the criminal proceedings against him were "mala fide" and borne out of "political vendetta", is listed for further hearing before Justice Suresh Kait on September 23.

The agency said there is overwhelming evidence against the Congress leader and a strong case is made out against NEW DELHI: The Congress on Friday claimed the "kingpins" of the INX Media case were in the government who were waging a vilification campaign to defame former finance minister P Chidambaram.

The opposition party said his arrest was nothing but a paramount example of political vendetta.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said this is a conspiracy by the government as investigating agencies probing the case have held only Chidambaram guilty and not the 11 other officers who put their signatures before him in giving clearances to INX Media.