INX Media case: Supreme Court to decide on Chidambaram’s bail plea on October 22.

Source – thehindu.com

A three-judge Bench of the Supreme Court, led by Justice R. Banumathi, will pronounce on October 22 its decision on the former Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram’s petition for regular bail in the CBI part of the INX Media case.

The court had heard extensive arguments from Mr. Chidambaram’s lawyers and Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta, for the CBI.

The Congress leader has challenged the Delhi High Court’s decision to deny him regular bail on September 30. He has been remanded in the custody of the Enforcement Directorate.

In his petition in the Supreme Court, Mr. Chidambaram said: “His continuing incarceration is in the form of punishment as his custody can neither be taken nor is required for the purpose of investigation.”

The High Court denied Mr. Chidambaram bail on the basis of Mr. Mehta’s submissions, also reflected in a report filed in a sealed cover, that two material witnesses were “approached” and told not to disclose information about him and his son.

The single-judge Bench of the High Court had said: “This court cannot dispute the fact that the petitioner has been a strong Finance Minister and Home Minister and at present a Member of Indian Parliament. He is a respectable member of the Bar Association of the Supreme Court of India. He has long standing in the Bar as a senior advocate. He has deep roots in the Indian society, and maybe some connection abroad. But the fact that he will not influence witnesses directly or indirectly cannot be ruled out in view of the facts. Moreover, the investigation is at an advance stage; therefore, this court is not inclined to grant [him] bail.”