Chidambaram arrest Updates: Ex-FM to remain in CBI custody till August 26
P Chidambaram-INX Media case: His family and lawyers have been permitted to visit him for 30 minutes every day.
- Aug 22, 2019,
- Updated Aug 22, 2019 8:12 PM IST
Chidambaram arrest updates: A special CBI court has ordered former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram to remain in CBI custody till August 26. His family and lawyers have been permitted to visit him for 30 minutes every day. Senior lawyers Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi appeared on behalf of P Chidambaram at the court and argued that there is no basis for the remand. Sibal had argued that CBI was not even ready with the questions and managed to ask only twelve. He added that the FIPB approval was given by six government secretaries, out of whom none have been arrested. Singhvi chimed in and said that the entire CBI case is based on Indrani Mukherjea's evidence and case diary. He also said that Chidambaram has been co-operative during the probe.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta who appeared on behalf of the CBI said that Chidambaram is being non-cooperative and that the INX Media case is a "classic case of money laundering". The Solicitor General said that $5 million and $45,000 were paid to companies linked to his son, Karti Chidambaram.
Meanwhile, protests from Opposition parties have been growing louder. NCP spokesperson said that the case against P Chidambaram was nothing but political vendetta, while the Congress said that the CBI becomes proactive only while investigating cases against Opposition leaders and not in case of BJP ministers. Mamata Banerjee said in a statement, "The manner in which he has been arrested is depressing. There are four pillars of democracy: democratic institutions, Election Commission, media and judicial system. The democratic system of our country is crying, yet the judiciary is not coming to its aid."
"This is a totally vindictive and malicious act, done by a pliant agency. This is only done to settle political scores. There was absolutely no necessity to have done this," says the MP.
Chidambaram arrest updates: A special CBI court has ordered former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram to remain in CBI custody till August 26. His family and lawyers have been permitted to visit him for 30 minutes every day. Senior lawyers Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi appeared on behalf of P Chidambaram at the court and argued that there is no basis for the remand. Sibal had argued that CBI was not even ready with the questions and managed to ask only twelve. He added that the FIPB approval was given by six government secretaries, out of whom none have been arrested. Singhvi chimed in and said that the entire CBI case is based on Indrani Mukherjea's evidence and case diary. He also said that Chidambaram has been co-operative during the probe.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta who appeared on behalf of the CBI said that Chidambaram is being non-cooperative and that the INX Media case is a "classic case of money laundering". The Solicitor General said that $5 million and $45,000 were paid to companies linked to his son, Karti Chidambaram.
Meanwhile, protests from Opposition parties have been growing louder. NCP spokesperson said that the case against P Chidambaram was nothing but political vendetta, while the Congress said that the CBI becomes proactive only while investigating cases against Opposition leaders and not in case of BJP ministers. Mamata Banerjee said in a statement, "The manner in which he has been arrested is depressing. There are four pillars of democracy: democratic institutions, Election Commission, media and judicial system. The democratic system of our country is crying, yet the judiciary is not coming to its aid."
"This is a totally vindictive and malicious act, done by a pliant agency. This is only done to settle political scores. There was absolutely no necessity to have done this," says the MP.