P Chidambaram’s bail plea rejected
NEWDELHI: Former Union minister P Chidambaram will remain in Tihar Jail, with the Delhi high court on Friday dismissing his bail plea in the INX Media money laundering case filed by the ED, saying prima facie allegations against him are serious in nature and that he played an “active and key role” in the offence.
The court said if bail is granted to Chidambaram in such a case, a wrong message will be sent to the public at large.
NEW DELHI: Former finance minister P Chidambaram will remain in Tihar Jail with the Delhi high court dismissing his bail plea on Friday in the INX Media money laundering case filed by the ED, saying prima facie allegations against him are serious in nature and he played an “active and key role” in the offence.
Justice Suresh Kait said the entire community is aggrieved if economic offenders, who ruin the economy of the state, are not brought to books.
Chidambaram was first arrested by the CBI on August 21 in the INX Media corruption case and was granted bail by the Supreme Court on October 22.
The 74-year old Congress leader, who was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in the money laundering case on October 16, is in judicial custody till November 27 under the order of a trial court.
The court said if bail is granted to Chidambaram in such a case of economic offence, wrong message will go to the public at large.
“In view of the facts and circumstances, I am not inclined to grant bail to the petitioner (Chidambaram),” Justice Kait said.
“Prima facie the allegations are serious in nature and the petitioner has played active and key role in the present case. It cannot be disputed that entire community is aggrieved if the economic offenders who ruin the economy of the State are not brought to book, as such offences affect the very fabric of democratic governance and probity in public life,” the court said dismissing his bail plea. While pronouncing the verdict, Justice Kait said the material collected by the ED in the money laundering case is distinct, different and independent with that collected by the CBI in the corruption case.
Even the investigation done in this case is different from the CBI’s case, the court said.
“No doubt, bail is right and jail is exception, but, if bail is granted in such case, a wrong message goes to the public at large,” it said.
If Chidambaram would have been granted bail in the money laundering case, he would have been out of the jail as he was not arrested in any other case.
The judge made it clear that the observations made in this order are only in dealing the bail application, but not conclusive. Therefore, the observations shall not prejudice the case of Chidambaram in any manner, he said.
The case was registered by the CBI on May 15, 2017, alleging irregularities in a Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance granted to the INX Media group for receiving overseas funds of ~305 crore in 2007, during Chidambaram’s tenure as finance minister.