Special Central Bureau of Invetsigation (CBI) court on Tuesday allowed Enforcement Directorate to interrogate the former finance minister P. Chidambaram in the Central Jail, Tihar in connection with the money laundering case of INX Media.
“... Accordingly, the application for arrest of accused is being treated as an application for interrogation for Accused in ECIR….and is allowed accordingly. So far as the application under Section 167 Cr.PC is concerned, it would be considered only if the accused is arrested by the DoE under section 19 of PML Act, 2002. This application is premature at this stage, as such, no order is passed on this application.” The order reads.
“That the accused maybe interrogated by the investigating officer in Central Jail, Tihar on 16.10.2019 after 08:30 am who is in the JC…” it further added.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the probe agency on Monday had told special judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar that there is a finding by the Supreme Court that custodial interrogation of Chidambaram is necessary. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal appearing for P. Chidambaram had opposed the custody sought by the probe agency.
"CBI has already sought his custody for investigating payment and companies abroad, which the ED wants to probe now," he argued.
Solicitor General further argued that money laundering in an independent and standalone offence. It doesn't form part of same transaction. It is a separate offence. The root may be the predicate offence.
The court on Friday had issued production warrant for P. Chidambaram on a plea by Enforcement Directorate seeking his custody in the INX Media money laundering case. The senior Congress leader is currently in judicial custody in the case filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
The special court on 3 October extended the judicial custody of Chidambaram till 17 October in the case filed by the CBI.
The Delhi High Court had on 30 September dismissed the bail plea of the veteran Congress leader in the money laundering and corruption case related to INX Media. Justice Suresh Kait had then said Chidambaram was not a flight risk but can possibly influence witnesses.
The Central Bureau of Investigation registered an FIR in May 2017 for alleged irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance to INX media for receiving overseas funds to the tune of ₹305 crore in 2007, when Chidambaram was the finance minister in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA)-1 government. Thereafter, the ED lodged a money laundering cases against him.
