Chidambaram arrested updates: Ex-FM to be in CBI's custody till Monday; family, lawyers allowed to meet just for 30 mins everyday

Centre wants to suppress opposing voices: Bhupesh Baghel on Chidambaram’s arrest

Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel said, “P Chidambaram was constantly criticising the policies of the Central government and was pointing out their failures. The government can’t face criticism and so they want to suppress the opposing voices.”

Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel: #PChidamabaram was constantly criticising the policies of the Central Govt and was pointing out their failures. The govt is not able to face the criticism and so they want to suppress the opposing voices. pic.twitter.com/P53n5dZQTg

— ANI (@ANI) August 22, 2019

P Chidambaram taken out of court

P Chidambaram was taken out of the CBI court soon after the verdict on the agency’s plea for his custody was pronounced. Meanwhile, the security at the CBI headquarters was beefed up.

INX Media Case: Former Union Finance Minister #PChidambaram being taken from Court after the Court sent him to CBI custody till August 26. pic.twitter.com/0XNUsBalMA

— ANI (@ANI) August 22, 2019

CBI gets Chidambaram’s custody till 26 August

A Delhi court granted CBI the custody of former finance minister P Chidambaram till 26 August to interrogate him in the INX Media case. According to India Today, Chidambaram’s family members and team of lawyers will be allowed to meet him for 30 minutes everyday during the period. The court has told the CBI that personal dignity of Chidambaram should not be violated.

Chidambaram’s plea against CBI listed in SC for tomorrow, petition against ED listed for 27 August

P Chidambaram’s plea against the Delhi High Court judgment, which denied him anticipatory bail in the INX Media case being probed by CBI, is listed for hearing in the Supreme Court for Friday. Beside this, another petition  by him seeking anticipatory bail in the case being investigated by the ED is listed for 27 August. 

If the CBI court doesn’t grant CBI Chidambaram’s custody, the ED will still have a chance to arrest him till the Supreme Court hears the matter.

Another twist while #PChidambaram waits for order on his custodial interrogation by the #CBI.

While his petition against the #CBI is listed tomorrow in the #SupremeCourt, the petition against the #ED is listed on Aug 27th. It also means #ED gets more time to arrest him. pic.twitter.com/o2VHNoQy6n

— Utkarsh Anand (@utkarsh_aanand) August 22, 2019

Kapil Sibal, Singhvi outside CBI court

Senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi were seen outside the CBI court in Delhi after hearing on the CBI plea seeking 5-day custodial interrogation of Congress leader P Chidambaram, who was arrested on Wednesday in the INX Media corruption case.

Congress lawyers Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi outside CBI Court after hearing on former Finance Minister P Chidambaram's bail in INX media case. CBI Court has reserved its order on an application of CBI seeking 5-day remand of P Chidambaram in the case. pic.twitter.com/gTP67Ade6U

— ANI (@ANI) August 22, 2019

CBI court order expected shortly

Special Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar heard the arguments of CBI and Chidambaram’s counsel for over one and a half hour before reserving the order.

Court reserves order for half an hour

The special CBI court hearing the agency’s plea for P Chidambaram’s custody has reserved its order for 30 minutes.

Court allows Chidambaram to speak

Chidambaram was allowed to speak by the CBI court during the hearing. He told the court that when he was called by CBI on 6 June 2018, he was only asked if he had a foreign bank account. He said that he didn’t have one and had given CBI the details of one bank account maintained by son Karti.

Chidambaram wants to speak in court, Tushar Mehta objects

Opposition CBI’s plea for P Chidambaram’s custody, Abhishek Manu Singhvi told the agency that it can ask him questions in the court itself. According to reports, Chidambaram expressed his want to speak to the judge, but CBI’s counsel Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta objected to it. “How can questions related to investigation be asked here. I did not object to two counsels arguing for Chidambaram, but this is objectionable,” Live Law quoted Mehta as telling the court.

Singhvi argues why Chidambaram shouldn’t be denied bail

Abhishek Manu Singhvi cited three tests for denying bail: non-cooperation, tampering of evidence, and risk of fleeing. “None of these are present in the case… Prosecution hasn’t made allegations of tampering of evidence or flight risk against P Chidambaram,” he said.

Chidambaram hasnt’ been evasive, Singhvi tells court

“Just because my answers aren’t what they want to hear, it doesn’t mean I’m not cooperating,” Abhishek Manu Singhvi told the court after the CBI claimed that P Chidambaram was not cooperating in the INX Media case.

Non cooperation is not when I don't answer the way you want me to answer. It is when you call 10 times and I say no 5 times. Here I've been called only once in 14 months. I've not been evasive, I've answered your questions : Singhvi #PChidamabaramArrested

— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) August 22, 2019

‘Approver is a status, not evidence’: Singhvi on CBI relying on Indrani’s statements

Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, also appearing for P Chidambaram, told the special CBI court that that the investigation agency’s entire case was based on (accused-turned-approver) Indrani Mukherjea’s evidence and a case diary. “Approver is a status, not evidence,” he said,

Sibal counters CBI’s argument on Chidambaram’s ‘protective umbrella’

Countering CBI’s argument that “certain questions can be answered only when accused is not under a protective umbrella”, Kapil Sibal said, “When the judge reserved the judgment for seven months, is this the ‘protective umbrella’ that I (P Chidambaram) sought?”

Custodial interrogation unnecesary, says Kapil Sibal

Opposing the CBI’s demand for five-day custody of P Chidambaram, senior advocate Kapil Sibal told the CBI court that former finance minister’s custodial interrogation was unnecessary. “FIPB approval is given by six secretaries of the Government of India. None of them have been arrested,” he told the court. He also claimed that the investigation in the case was already over.

P Chidambaram refuses to sit in witness box

As the hearing in the CBI court continued, P Chidambaram stood in the witness box, refusing to sit despite Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta offering him a chair.

SG Tushar Mehta offers chair for #PChidambaram to sit but #Chidambaram refuses to sit.

— Utkarsh Anand (@utkarsh_aanand) August 22, 2019

CBI concludes arguments

As he sought five-day custody of P Chidambaram, Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta told the court that the case was “serious” and of “monumental magnitude”.

Mere appearance becomes a formality when the accused in under the protective umbrella. This is a serious case..of monumental magnitude, Mehta concludes as he urges the Court to grant 5 days custody of P Chidambaram. #PChidambaram #INXMedia

— Bar & Bench (@barandbench) August 22, 2019

Certain questions can be answered only when accused is not under protective umbrella: CBI tells court

Seeking a five-day custody of P Chidambaram, CBI told the Delhi court, “He (Chidambaram) is not providing all the documents required for investigation.. Certain questions can be answered only when the accused is not under the protective umbrella.”

CBI tells court custodial interrogation needed to confront Chidambaram with documents

“Custodial Interrogation is required to confront P Chidambaram with the relevant documents and other accused in the case to take the investigation further,” Bar and Bench quoted Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta as telling the CBI court.

Chidambaram not co-operating, CBI tells court

Appearing for the CBI, Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta told the court that though right to silence is a Constitutional right, P Chidambaram was not co-operating in the investigation into the INX Media case.

Meanwhile, former Uttarakhand chief minister Harish Rawat arrived at the court premises to show his support for his party colleague.

Hearing begins in CBI court

The hearing has begun in the special CBI court. CNN-News18 reported that the CBI is seeking a five-day custody.

Chidambaram and legal team inside special CBI court

P Chidambaram and his legal team, which includes senior advocate and Congress leader Kapil Sibal, are inside the special CBI court.

What’s the fun in levelling baseless allegations against Opposition now: Sadanand Gowda rubbishes allegations of political vendetta 

“Practically… what they did (misuse of investigating agencies during the Congress tenure)…now they are suffering from the same phobia”, the Chemicals and Fertilisers Minister said. “If at all we wanted to resort to political vengeance, we would have done earlier (in the previous term). Now everything is over, we are in absolute power and the party has got more (bigger) mandate. Now is there any necessity for anybody to (do it)?,” Gowda asked. “What’s the fun in simply levelling some false allegations against our…(political rivals). It’s a totally baseless allegation,” he told CNN-News18.

CBI officials ready list of over 100 questions for P Chidambaram

A team of officials, armed with over 100 questions pertaining to process of clearance, alleged meetings with INX media promoter Indrani Mukerjea, companies Chess Management and Advantage Strategic etc, will question former home and finance minister P Chidambaram over the course of his custody with the agency, according to sources.

Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi hits out at Congress for supporting Chidambaram

Hitting out at the Congress for strongly backing P Chidambaram in the INX Media case, Union minister and senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi on Thursday said the opposition party and its leadership is trying to “convert corruption into a revolution“. 

“The Congress is working with a negative mindset. They have converted corruption into a revolution. This is for the first time that corruption is becoming a revolution. Till now, revolution was against corruption, now revolution is being carried out in favour of corruption,” Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi told PTI.

DMK President MK Stalin backs P Chidambaram

DMK President MK Stalin in Chennai on P Chidambaram arrested by CBI: I too saw how CBI jumped the wall & arrested him, it's a matter of shame for India, it is political vendetta. Chidambaram had asked for anticipatory bail but he was arrested, it's condemnable. pic.twitter.com/iaRZ1RGU1d

— ANI (@ANI) August 22, 2019

Mamata condemns how Chidambaram was arrested 

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, in a statement in the West Midnapore district, said that she condemns the manner in which P Chidambaram was arrested. She added that she was not questioning the law, but condemns the manner of his arrest as he is a distinguished personality, being a former Finance and Home Minister. “It is very sad. Democracy is in danger,” she said.

CBI to produce P Chidambaram in court shortly

P Chidambaram will be produced in a special CBI court today in a short while. The former finace minister’s son Karti and wife Nalini have already arrived at the court premises.

SG Tushar Mehta likely to represent CBI in case against Chidambaram

Solicitor General of India, Tushar Mehta is likely to represent the CBI against Congress leader P Chidambaram in the INX Media case hearing in the agency’s special court on Thursday, News18 reported.

CBI likely to seek custody of P Chidambaram

The CBI, who is one of the central agencies investigating allegations of corruption against former finance minister P Chidambaram, is likely to seek the custody of the Congress leader after he was arrested from his residence in Delhi on Wednesday night.

India Today reported that the agency will appeal for custody on the grounds that Chidambaram was “evasive” and uncooperative in the investigation, and also the “enormity of the evidence”.

CBI concludes questioning P Chidambaram

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) concluded its second round of interrogation of Congress leader and former finance minister P Chidambaram in the INX Media corruption case on Thursday. Reportedly, he was interrogated for three hours, during which Chidambaram was “evasive”, India Today quoted sources as saying.

Chidambaram likely to be produced in CBI special court at 4 pm

P Chidambaram is likely to be produced in the special CBI court by 4 pm today. The CBI has 24 hours to produce Chidambaram before a magistrate or a court. The deadline gets over at 9 pm today. 

#NewsAlert – Medical examination of @PChidambaram_IN done. He is likely to be produced in Special Judge Ajay Kuhar's Court post 4 PM. | @Arunima24 with details. pic.twitter.com/QzI2AWvgy0

— News18 (@CNNnews18) August 22, 2019

Congress walks out from HP Assembly over P Chidambaram’s arrest 

The opposition Congress on Thursday walked out from the Himachal Pradesh Assembly, protesting the arrest of former finance minister P Chidambaram. Congress MLAs led by Leader of Opposition Mukesh Agnihotri raised slogans before staging the walkout. Agnihotri rose from his seat soon after the Question Hour at noon and stated that Chidambaram’s arrest was a “murder of democracy”.  However, Speaker Rajiv Bindal stopped him from raising the issue, stating  no notice for discussion was given.

Soon after Congress MLAs started raising slogans “Modi Sarkar Murdabad". Countering them, BJP MLAs raised slogans like “Chor Machaye Shor.”

Prashant Bhushan calls action against Chidambaram malafide

Public interest lawyer and activist Prashant Bhushan said that the P Chidambaram’s arrest for “custodial interrogation” was “malafide”.

Arresting Chidambaram for 'custodial interrogation' is totally malafide & against the Constitution. He has cooperated with the investigation & appeared before CBI & ED whenever called. Do they want to extract confession by custodial torture? Govt's misuse of agencies is boundless

— Prashant Bhushan (@pbhushan1) August 22, 2019

Arrested on Indrani Mukerjea’s Word", says RS Surjewala 

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said that the former finance and home minister was arrested for an allegation made against him in 2007, after a dozen of years in 2019. He also stated that officials of the company which was involved in the case were not arrested. “A seasoned man with 40 years’ dedication to public was arrested on the statement of a jailed woman who has been charged with murdering her own daughter,” he said, adding that there was no evidence against him in the FIR, nor was there a charge sheet against him. ​

Reports say P Chidambaram to be produced in Court post lunch

Hope CBI sleuths who scaled walls have courage to tell truth to political masters, says RS Surjewala

“I hope that those CBI officials, who scaled the walls of P Chidambaram’s residence to feed the media propaganda and please their political masters, will now also have the courage to tell the PMO that there is no evidence against P Chidanmbaram and Kar,

CBI attack on P Chidambaram attempt to character assasinate him, says RS Surjewala

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala, addressing the media, said that the Government is hell bent upon using CBI and ED as personal revenge seeking departments., which is evident in the way P Chidambaram has been persecuted and prosecuted.He added that it was nothing  short of personal vendetta.

Karti Chidambaram categorically denies meeting Indrani, Peter Mukerjea

“I have never met Indrani, Peter Mukerjea”, Karti Chidambaram told CNN-News18. “I’m categorically mentioning this. I have never met Peter Mukerjea or Indrani Mukerjea or anyone associated with them,” says Karti Chidambaram as he lands in New Delhi. He added that there was no reason for his father to be at any particular place. “There was no court order. He was a free man and could do whatever he wanted with his free time.”

Karti Chidambaram to protest at Jantar Mantar

Karti Chidambaram in Delhi on P Chidambaram arrested by CBI: This is not merely targeting of my father but the targeting of Congress party. I will go to Jantar Mantar to protest. pic.twitter.com/IpDJbwOHk5

— ANI (@ANI) August 22, 2019

Chidambaram spent a quiet night in custody, barely spoke to CBI officials, say reports

Former Union finance minister P Chidambaram spent a quiet night in the CBI guest house. After a thorough medical check-up by a doctor from the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, he was taken to the room where he spent a quiet night, the officials said.

Mostly, they said, he remained silent except answering a few queries as and when questioned by the CBI officers. His questioning will start at around 10 Thursday morning under DySP R Parthasarthy who is leading the probe in the alleged corruption in Rs 305 crore clearance given to INX media when he was the Union finance minister, the officials said.

Justice Ramana, who refused to hear Chidambaram’s plea until it was listed, heard a similar matter few day’s ago

Utkarsh Anand of the CNN-News18 reported, that Justice NV Ramana, who declined to issue any order on the petition filed by the former Union minister because the matter was not duly listed by the CJI.

“But on August 16, Justice Ramana, who happens to be the most senior judge to hear the mentioning while the CJI sits in the Ayodhya Constitution Bench, did pass an order in a case which was yet to be listed. In a case relating to Bhushan Steel’s former chief financial officer and director Nittin Johari, Justice Ramana passed an order, staying the Delhi High Court.”

When Sibal sought to remind Justice Ramana of this order, Justice Ramana declined his plea.statin “That was a different case. He was going abroad,” said Justice Ramana, snubbing the plea to grant interim protection from arrest to Chidambaram.

In round 2 of interrogation, CBI quizzes Chidambaram about meeting with Indrani

Former finance and home minister P Chidambaram, whose interrogation in the INX media scam case is currently underway, has been asked to divulge the details of his meeting with Indrani Mukerjea, co-founder of INX media. 

The CBI had registered an FIR on May 15, 2017, alleging irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance granted to the INX media group for receiving overseas funds of Rs 305 crore in 2007 during Chidambaram’s tenure as finance minister. Thereafter, the ED lodged a money laundering case in this regard in 2018.

Shashi Tharoor backs P Chidambaram 

A day after probe agencies summoned Union Minister P Chidambaram in an alleged money laundering case involving INX Media, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor came out in his support with a tweet claiming that justice will prevail in the end. 

Well said @PChidambaram_IN ! It is a tribute to your strength of character that you are standing up to persecution &character assassination w/ courage & confidence. I believe justice will prevail in the end. Till then we will have to allow some malicious minds their schadenfreude https://t.co/OoERqVVKTQ

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) August 21, 2019

Karti Chidambaram thanks Rahul, Priyanka Gandhi for vocal support for father

When asked about the Delhi High Court’s 20 August order, during which the court held that former finance minister P Chidambaram was the “prima facie kingpin” in the INX Media case, Karti said, “If you are going to rely on the judgment of 20 August, 2019, I would only respectfully say that you must contrast it with the judgment of 23 March, 2018 of Justice RS Garg of the Delhi High Court. Please read that judgment. It’s on the same case and the same facts. It pertains to me.”

He added, “We will go through the legal process. I have full faith in the judiciary. I am very glad that the entire Congress party is with us. I want to particularly thank Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for coming out in our support. We will win this politically and legally together.”

P Chidambaram’s arrest is like ‘staged reality show’, says Karti

Karti Chidambaram, son of former finance minister P Chidambaram who was arrested by the CBI in connection with the INX Media corruption case on Wednesday night, said that the arrest by the central investigative agency is like a “staged reality show to have all these dramatic visuals on television.”

He added, “There is no reason for this kind of drama… It’s not done as an honest investigation… They are still in the FIR stage. There is no chargesheet for an event which apparently happened in 2008. Nearly eleven years later, you still can’t have a chargesheet for an event, even though your FIR was filed in 2017.”
 

Karti claimed that the officials who are investigating “clearly know that there is no case, but nobody has the courage to actually write in the file that there is no case, let’s close.”

Karti Chidambaram says ex-FM arrested to divert attention from issue of Article 370

Former finance minister P Chidambaram’s son Karti Chidambaram on Thursday said that his father’s arrest by CBI on Wednesday night in connection with the INX Media corruption case is being done just to divert attention from the issue of Article 370. “It (the arrest) is being done just to divert attention from the issue of Article 370,” Karti told reporters.

“This whole thing is politically trumped-up. There are no merits whatsoever. These are apparently about alleged events which took place in 2008 for which an FIR was filed in 2017. I have been raided four times. I have been summoned 20 times. I have appeared for at least 10-12 hours in each of the summons. I was also the guest of the CBI for 11 days. Everybody who is even remotely associated with me has been summoned and extensively questioned, and still, we don’t have a charge-sheet. There is no case. I have absolutely no link with INX Media,” Karti said.

CBI, ED should have waited till Friday for SC verdict: Salman Khurshid

Congress leader and senior advocate Salman Khurshid responded to P Chidambaram’s arrest by the CBI on Wednesday night.

He 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.”

Second round of P Chidambaram’s interrogation underway

The second round of interrogation of Congress leader P Chidambaram by the CBI has is currently underway, CNN-News18 reported. The former finance minister and his son, Karti Chidambaram, who is also involved in the INX Media corruption case.

P Chidambaram issues statement after reappearing in Congress HQ last evening

Former Union minister P Chidambaram, who was deemed missing yesterday after the CBI failed to get hold of him, reappeared on Wednesday night at his party’s headquarters and gave a press briefing rubbishing corruption allegations against himself and his son Karti. The Congress has put out the statement on its twitter page. 

Press Statement by Shri @PChidambaram_IN on the persecution & vendetta politics by the Modi govt. #BJPVendettaPolitics pic.twitter.com/5ulUhfHXFb

— Congress (@INCIndia) August 21, 2019

Chidambaram faces trolling on Twitter after arrest

Former finance minister and veteran Congressman was the butt of all jokes for right-wing troll during the two-day ordeal of him trying to secure interim protection from arrest, and the CBI breathing down his neck. 

Before Chidambaram was taken into custody by the CBI, #ChiddiBhagModiAaya was trending with several unpalatable tweets demeaning the former Union minister. Afterwards, up until today morning at the time of writing this post, ‘CBI in 1963" was trending on Twitter, where users pointed out that the CBI was founded in 1963 by Jawaharlal Nehru, which was a contorted take on Congress party’s complain that the current dispensation doesn’t give due credit to their predecessors.

Chidambaram to be produced in Special CBI Court today 

After his arrest on Wednesday, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram spent the night at CBI headquarters and is expected to be produced before a special CBI Court today, where the agency will seek his remand. The CBI had sought Chidambaram’s “custodial interrogation” in the case pertaining to alleged irregularities in the grant of foreign investment clearances to INX Media when he was the finance minister.

CBI’s sensational arrest of P Chidambaram for voyeuristic pleasure of some, says Karti Chidambaram

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram’s son Karti on Wednesday lashed out at the CBI for arresting his father in the INX media case, saying it was a “totally politically motivated witch-hunt”. 

“This is totally a politically motivated witch-hunt,” the Congress MP, who is an accused in the INX media case and out on bail, told reporters outside his residence in New Delhi. He alleged the entire thing was a drama and spectacle enacted by probe agencies to simply sensationalise and satisfy the “voyeuristic pleasure” of some.

P Chidambaram held in CBI headquarter he inaugurated in 2011 as home minister

Chidambaram was arrested by CBI yesterday and brought to the agency’s headquarter, which was ironically inaugurated by the Congress leader as then home minister in June, 2011. 

#WATCH ANI file footage: The then Union Home Minister, P Chidambaram at the inauguration of the new Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) headquarters in Delhi on June 30, 2011. Chidambaram was arrested by CBI yesterday and brought to this complex. pic.twitter.com/ikuxIzaSyF

— ANI (@ANI) August 22, 2019

CBI sleuths scaled walls to arrest former home minister

The CBI which was looking for 73-year old Chidambaram since Tuesday after his anticipatory bail application was rejected by the Delhi High Court managed to get a whiff of his location only when he appeared on camera at the Congress headquarters in the evening to make a press statement. 

The sleuths rushed to the party office, but by the time they reached, Chidambaram had already left for his residence 115-A in Jorbagh, a 10-minute distance from the party office, in a luxury sedan accompanied with his lawyers and party colleagues — Singhvi and Sibal. Leaving no stones unturned to avoid an embarrassing situation of Tuesday when the agency failed to locate him at his bungalow, the CBI team made a strong presence today with about two dozens officers swarming the place.

With a big media contingent beaming live images of the developments, the CBI team first knocked the gates to gain entry but finding no response, they nimbly scaled the nearly five-ft high walls to gain entry. Once three officers reached inside, they opened the gates to allow entry to other team members waiting outside. Soon a team of officers, identifying themselves as from ED, too arrived at the scene.

Chidambaram detained by CBI in late night drama

Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram was arrested by the CBI Wednesday night from his residence in connection with INX media corruption case after dramatic developments with the agency sleuths scaling walls to gain access to the bungalow in the high-end Jor Bagh locality. 

After completing arrest formalities, the CBI team had to wade through Congress supporters who had gathered outside raising slogans against the agency. Some supporters jumped on the white car in which Chidambaram was being taken to the agency headquarters. Delhi Police personnel were also posted to prevent any adverse law and order situation.