INX media case: CBI nets Chidambaram, gets ex-FM's custody till Aug 26

Former Union Finance Minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, who had gone incommunicado for 24 hours, was arrested on Wednesday (August 21) night by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after which he was taken to its headquarter in New Delhi's Lodhi Road area. The CBI officers scaled the boundary wall of Chidambaram's Jor Bagh residence in order to nab him.

The Senior Congress leader was arrested in the INX Media money laundering case, in which he has been accused of facilitating foreign investment into a television firm, INX Media, in 2007, when he was the finance minister in the Congress-led UPA government.

Chidambaram, who once held the portfolios of the home ministry and then finance ministry, had to spend the night in "Lock-up suite 3" in the guest-house floor of the CBI building. The CBI started questioning Chidambaram this morning and he will be taken to the court later in the day. Follow ibtimes.co.in for Live Updates.

The CBI court reserves its order on an application of CBI seeking five-day remand of senior Congress leader P Chidambaram in INX Media money laundering case. The order will be announced shortly.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal is arguing for P Chidambaram in the CBI court, says, "This is the case which has nothing to do with evidence but with something else."

The CBI produced former Chidambaram before a special CBI court in the national capital in a money laundering case related to INX Media scam. Senior lawyers Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi, ex-FM's son Karti Chidambaram and his wife Nalini Chidambaram are also present inside the CBI court.

Senior advocate Dayan Krishnan and advocate Arshdeep Singh Khurana are present in the courtroom of CBI court. P Chidambaram has reached there for hearing in INX Media case.

Chidambaram being taken from CBI Office to court for hearing in INX Media Case.

CPI(M) leaders Sitaram Yechury and Brinda Karat, and Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Ram Gopal Yadav also present at the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) led All-Party Demonstration, demanding the "release of leaders detained in Jammu & Kashmir", at Jantar Mantar.

According to reports, the former finance minister is trying to evade questions and is non-cooperative following CBI's questioning for almost 2 hours.

On P Chidambaram's arrest, Karti Chidambaram said, "This is not merely targeting of my father but the targeting of Congress party. I will go to Jantar Mantar to protest."

Baghpat BJP MP Satya Pal Singh said, "Chidambaram ji is a former Union Finance and Home Minister. He is an intellectual and knows the law. He should not have behaved like this after the court's order. What happened was not good. Had he surrendered earlier, his dignity would have remained intact."

After P Chidambaram was nabbed by the CBI sleuths on Wednesday, Congress leader Salman Khurshid said "It's deeply distressing that all that had to happen. There was no question of not being answerable to the law. The matter is listed on Friday. They could have waited till then to see what the Supreme Court wants to do."

Taking to Twitter, Bhopal MP Sadhvi Pragya said, "Nyaay to hota hai Prabhu ke yahaan. Kalayug mein der bhee nahin andher bhee nahin. Vande Maataram."

At the time when Chidambaram was the Union Home Minister in 2011 in the UPA government, he participated in the inauguration of the same CBI headquarter where he had to spend the night after being arrested in connection with INX Media case.

Chidambaram was a special guest at the inauguration event of the CBI headquarters, held on June 30, 2011.

Hours after Chidambaram was arrested by CBI in connection with INX Media case, his son Karti Chidambaram said they will fight this "trumped-up and vindictive act" by a "pliant agency" politically and legally.

"This is a totally vindictive and malicious act done by a pliant agency. This is only done to settle political scores. There is absolutely no necessity to have done this. It has been done only to create a spectacle on television and to tarnish the image of the Congress party, and to tarnish the image of the former Finance and Home Minister. This is a completely trumped-up case in which he has absolutely no connection whatsoever. This is being done only for political reasons," Karti told a news agency.

Terming the arrest of Chidambaram by the CBI a "politically motivated witch-hunt", Congress leader Karti Chidambaram said that the entire drama was being done for "voyeurism" and to divert the attention of the country from serious issues.

"This is totally a politically motivated witch-hunt. This is apparently about events that happened in 2008, for which an FIR was filed in 2017. I have been raided four times. No one in the history of India has been raided four times. I'm the only person who has been raided four times. I've appeared before agencies over 20 times, and each time I have spent over 10 hours," said Karti.

A list of cases in which Chidambaram has been embroiled in:

• INX Media Case
• Aircel Maxis Deal
• Air India Purchase
• Black Money Case
• Tamil Nadu land grab case
• Ishrat Jahan affidavit case

After the arrest of former Finance Minister P Chidambaram, his application of anticipatory bail filed in the Supreme Court has become infructuous. After this, Chidambaram's lawyers would have to move a regular bail application before a trial court at Rouse Avenue, Delhi. According to rules, Chidambaram would have to be produced before a magistrate within 24 hours of his arrest. READ FULL STORY HERE

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) led the all-party demonstration, demanding the "release of leaders detained in Jammu and Kashmir" underway at Jantar Mantar. Congress leaders -- Karti Chidambaram and Ghulam Nabi Azad, RJD leader Manoj Jha, and others also present.

After Chidambaram evaded arrest for 24 hours, the CBI finally nabbed him from his Jor Bagh residence. A few CBI officials scaled the wall and jumped inside after they were denied entry from the front gate. Watch the footage here:

Senior Congress leader and former FM P Chidamabaram will likely be produced in the CBI court on Thursday, August 22, between 2 and 4 pm.