PC denied bail; CBI & ED swoop down on his home

New Delhi: Former finance minister P Chidambaram on Tuesday moved the Supreme Court, seeking interim protection from arrest in the INX Media case after the Delhi High Court rejected his anticipatory bail in the case, which is being probed by both the ED and CBI.

After Chief Justice of India, Ranjan Gogoi said no to listing the matter for urgent hearing on Tuesday evening, Chidambaram's lawyers were asked to approach the senior-most Judge with the matter when the Apex court opens today.

However, after Chidambaram left the court premises, drama ensued when a six-member CBI team reached the veteran Congress leader's Delhi home in Jorbagh and left the premises shortly, after realising that he was not there.

Minutes later, an Enforcement Directorate team, headed by an Assistant Director-level officer also reached the Jorbagh residence.

Chidambaram has not been seen since he left the court premises on Tuesday.

Earlier on Tuesday, both the CBI and the ED had opposed Chidambaram's plea on the ground that his custodial interrogation was required as he was evasive during questioning.

Both the probe agencies had contended that FIPB clearance was granted to the media group for receiving overseas funds of Rs 305 crore during Chidambaram's tenure as finance minister.

ED alleged that Chidambaram's son, Karti, directly or indirectly controlled the companies in which money was transferred.

In the scathing High Court order, Justice Sunil Gaur said that calling Chidambaram's prosecution in the case politically motivated and an act of vendetta was "prepostorous", adding that "it was a classic case of money-laundering... hands of investigative agencies cannot be tied up in such a massive economic offence".

The high court had on July 25, 2018, granted interim protection from arrest to Chidambaram in both the cases, which was extended from time to time.

The senior Congress leader's role in the INX Media case had come under the scanner, after the media firm's directors Peter and Indrani Mukerjea had brought up his name.

Meanwhile, the ED also conducted searches on premises of one Sobha Builders in Delhi, Gurugram and Bengaluru. The company is allegedly linked to Congress troubleshooter DK Shivakumar.