New Delhi: A Delhi court Thursday sent former finance minister P. Chidambaram to judicial custody in Tihar jail till 19 September in the INX Media corruption case.
Special Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar, who presided over the hearing, allowed the Congress leader to carry his medicines to jail.
Chidambaram’s CBI custody, ordered by the special court in five spells and which started after his arrest on 21 August, ended Thursday.
Chidambaram’s counsel had opposed the CBI plea for judicial custody, and said that he was ready to be taken into Enforcement Directorate (ED) custody in the money laundering case linked to the INX Media scam. The Delhi High Court had on 20 August denied Chidambaram’s anticipatory bail plea in the case.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who is representing Chidambaram, had pressed for ED custody.
“There is nothing found against me. There is no charge sheet. They say I am a powerful and influential. But they have no evidence. There is no evidence of tampering with evidence. Has a witness said anything like that?” Sibal argued on the Congress leader’s behalf.
Chidambaram was brought to the special court after he withdrew his petition challenging the non-bailable warrant (NBW) issued against him, following which he was sent to CBI custody.
The apex court also decided against Chidambaram’s appeal against the Delhi High Court’s order denying him a pre-arrest bail in the ED case.
Hours after the apex court order, another special court granted Chidambaram and his son Karti anticipatory bail in the Aircel Maxis cases.
Also read: 4 cases in one day — why today is Chidambaram’s biggest date in court
Speaking as a lay person with no knowledge of law, one is unable to understand the rationale for sending to jail someone who has not been convicted of a crime. For an eminent person, normal questioning could be as efficacious as custodial interrogation. However, once that process is over, he should be home, awaiting commencement of the trial. If a flight risk is perceived, the passport could be surrendered to the court. In a financial transaction, based on extensive documentation, there is no possibility of influencing witnesses, in the manner that the Sengars do.
Whilst my knowledge of this case is limited to what the media feed fed me with. it would be reasonable to assume that there may be a case for bribery and/or money laundering against PC. However, the spectre of his arrest followed by judicial custody now, are clear indications of the whole episode being driven by political considerations than the severity of the crime committed. Historically, PC has shown contempt for North-Indian politicians and wore this aura of arrogance around him, which meant he didn’t connect well with many politicians within Delhi cocktail circuit.
Judiciary has simply become an extended arm of judiciary. Situation of Judiciary is worst than it was during emergency… Currently there is a factor of greed added to the fear.