P. CHIDAMBARAM MOVES THE APEX COURT TO SEEK BAIL IN INX MEDIA CASE Shajeeda Tajdeen Legal Article Fri, Oct 04, 2019, at ,11:27 AM Introduction: Former Central Minister P Chidambaram has moved the Apex Court questioning the judgment of the Delhi High Court dated 30/09/2019, wherein his application for bail in the INX Media case was dismissed. Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal appearing on behalf of Mr. P Chidambaram mentioned before Justice Raman to urgently list the said matter on Thursday. However, Justice Raman clarified that the Chief Justice of India shall take the final call on listing and subsequently forwarded the file to him. Brief of the case: Justice Suresh Kumar Kait of the Delhi High Court dismissed the bail application on the grounds that even though Mr. Chidambaram has the capability of intimidating or persuading the witnesses based on his stature as a Senior and also as Rajya Sabha MP and former Union Cabinet Minister. Subsequently, the CBI had submitted a ‘sealed cover’ of which the High Court had taken notes of. The Judgement said that the CBI was of the view that the prime accused in the INX Media case i.e. Peter Mukherjee and Indrani Mukherjee had met Mr. Chidambaram before the filing of the application for FIPB approval. The Court stated in its judgment that it was on record that a huge sum of money was transferred to the companies which were owned and controlled by Minister P Chidambaram’s son i.e. Karti Chidambaram and the said transfers had taken place during the period of FIPB approval to INX Media, furthermore, no services were returned by those companies. It was also disclosed that simultaneously a large number of emails were also exchanged between the representatives of INX Media and the company which was controlled by Karti Chidambaram. The Delhi High Court remarked that ‘economic offenses form a class apart as it cuts the root of probity and purity of public administration. It stated an economic offense is committed with cool calculation and deliberate design with an eye on personal profit regardless of the consequence to the community.’ P Chidambaram was arrested by the CBI on 21st August 2019, from his residence in Jor Bagh and is in custody since then. On 5th September 2019, he was shifted to Tihar Jail after completing a period of 15 days with the CBI. The remand period was then extended until 3rd October. The allegation is that as Union Finance Minister in 2007, Chidambaram took kickbacks for FIPB clearance for the FDI of INX media and the money received was dispelled through the various companies associated with Karti Chidambaram. Apart from the above-mentioned cases, the Enforcement Directorate has registered a separate case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act with regards to money laundering allegations. The Case which is registered by the CBI is in relation to corruption. Conclusion: The call of the CJI would decide whether Mr. P Chidambaram will be given an opportunity to present his side for seeking bail or if the decision of the Delhi High Court of taking Mr. P Chidambaram in custody would prevail.