At last, Karma has started catching up with the former Finance Minister P Chidambaram (PC). Fearing the possibility of an arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), on Wednesday, PC shuttled between the 2G trial court and Delhi High Court High Court seeking anticipatory bail as he received a summons in Aircel-Maxis and INX Media scams. CBI summoned Chidambaram to appear on Thursday in connection with INX Media probe and he has to appear before ED on June 5 in connection with Aircel-Maxis probe. Meanwhile, the Madras High Court (MHC) refused to stay the Income Tax prosecution of his wife Nalini, son Karti and his wife Srinidhi under Black Money Act.
On Wednesday morning by 9:30 AM Chidambaram reached the 2G Court with senior lawyers and colleagues Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Singhvi against ED’s summons. The Judge O P Saini gave interim protection till June 5, instructing Chidambaram to appear as and when the agency demands. Chidambaram’s relief did not last long – within hours he was asked to appear before the CBI in the INX Media probe on Thursday. Saini already had given a similar anticipatory bail to Karti on March 23. It is a wonder as to how a trial court judge is entertaining such petitions by the corrupt family when the Supreme Court has ordered CBI and ED to finish the probe in Aircel-Maxis within six months, on the same month[1].
In his plea, Chidambaram said that all the evidence in the matter appears to be documentary in nature which is already in the possession of the incumbent government and nothing was to be recovered from him.
However, special public prosecutor Nitesh Rana, appearing for the ED, opposed Chidambaram’s plea saying he did not join the investigation today, for which the ED had already issued the summons.
By 1:30 PM, with colleagues Sibal and Singhvi, Chidambaram reached Delhi High Court seeking anticipatory bail. However, in this case, he did not approach the trial court of Special Judge Sunil Rana handling the case.
The development before the High Court witnessed some drama as Justice S P Garg recused to hear the matter and the file was placed before acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal, who allocated the case for hearing before Justice A K Pathak. Justice Pathak, in the forenoon session, said he was willing to hear the matter after 3:00 PM but Sibal expressed his difficulty and both the sides consented to get the matter to be heard on Thursday morning at 10:30 AM.
Meanwhile, the Madras High Court on Wednesday refused to stay prosecution launched by the Income Tax Department against former Union Minister P. Chidambaram’s wife Nalini Chidambaram, son Karti P. Chidambaram and daughter-in-law Srinidhi Karti Chidambaram under the Black Money Act of 2015.
Justice S. Bhaskaran rejected the plea for interim orders and adjourned the cases, filed by Chidambaram’s family to quash the Income Tax prosecution, to July 5 after ordering notice to I-T officials.
References:
[1] SC slams CBI and ED. Directs to finish the investigation in Aircel-Maxis case in six months – Mar 12, 2018, PGurus.com
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This concept of anticipatory bail should be abolished. This fellow Chidambaram has to be punished for the “Hindu terror” act.
imagine he is still talking like he is satya harischandra and making statements on bjp’s governance … dont know wat mettle they are made up of. absolutely shamless.
Prime Minister of India, Modi should make him a cabinet minister after 2019 General Election. I understand that Modi and his team has decided not to include him in the cabinet. But this man, Swamy is outstanding and all big congress party fears from only this person. Even the BJP persons don’t know which way he will fire.
Swami ji you are so fearless person. I wish to join your team. I am a lawyer.
Atlast law is catching up with the mighty, thanks to the untiring crusade of Dr Swamy and his associates. Also kudos to pgurus for factual and dependable analytical reporting.