Nalini Chidambaram gets interim relief from CBI arrest in Saradha fund case

CHENNAI: The Madras high court on Saturday granted Nalini Chidambaram, wife of former finance minister P Chidambaram, interim protection from arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation in the Saradha chit fund case till she obtains an anticipatory bail from a jurisdictional court in West Bengal.

Justice GK Illanthiraiyan passed the interim order at a special sitting to hear the anticipatory bail plea of Nalini Chidambaram.

The judge granted four weeks interim bail to Nalini and directed her to surrender before the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Egmore here and furnish sureties and thereafter approach the jurisdictional court in West Bengal and obtain regular anticipatory bail.

Special Public Prosecutor (Enforcement Directorate) G Hema strongly opposed the petition and argued that the court should not entertain Nalini’s plea since it does not have jurisdiction in the matter.

The ED had registered an ECIR (Enforcement Case Information Report) in the matter under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

Nalini, a senior advocate, moved her application apprehending arrest a day after the CBI filed a chargesheet against her in a Kolkata court, alleging she had received ₹1.4 crore from Saradha group of companies, which was involved in a chit fund “scam”.

In her plea, Nalini contended that the alleged payout was a legitimate fee from Saradha Realty Limited on behalf of Manoranjana Sinh in connection with Positive TV. “In total contradiction of such previous charge sheets, on January 11, the CBI filed the sixth supplementary charge sheet before a West Bengal court for offences, including conspiracy under the IPC, alleging her involvement in the scam,” counsel for Nalini said.

NALINI MOVED HER PLEA AFTER CBI FILED A CHARGESHEET AGAINST HER, ALLEGING SHE HAD RECEIVED ₹1.4 CR FROM SARADHA COMPANIES