PC sent to CBI custody till August 26
New Delhi: Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram, who was on Wednesday night arrested by the CBI in connection with the INX Media case amid high drama, was on Thursday evening produced before a Special CBI court here, which remanded to him to the probe agency's custody till August 26 (Monday), allowing investigators to question him under custody for the next four days.
Special CBI judge, Arvind Kumar Kuhar pronounced the order in court, saying that the investigators should ensure that Chidambaram's "personal dignity is not violated in any way". He also directed that Chidambaram was to undergo medical check-ups every 48 hours, with half an hour a day set aside for visits with family and/or counsel.
He is to be produced before the court again on August 26.
Representing the Central Bureau of Investigation in the trial court, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta asked the court to grant CBI 5-day custody of Chidambaram. He also cited a Supreme Court order, emphasising the importance of custodial interrogation in the course of investigating a case.
The veteran Congress leader had senior lawyers Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi batting for him in court, both of whom opposed CBI's plea to get Chidambaram's custody.
Sibal claimed that after Chidambaram was arrested on Wednesday night, he was not questioned the same night. The lawyer said that CBI officials only questioned him at 12:30 pm on Thursday and asked him just 12 questions. Sibal said six of those questions were ones that Chidambaram had already answered before.
Sibal also pointed out that as far as the INX Media case is concerned, six FIPB secretaries had approved the FDI for the media company and Chidambaram had just signed them off procedurally. Not one of the secretaries were arrested, summoned, or questioned by the agency, he argued.
Whereas, Singhvi said that the prosecution's idea of non-cooperation was when they did not get answers they desired, also citing an Apex court judgement about an individual's right against self-incrimination.
He also mentioned that Chidambaram was not a flight risk, did not try to influence witnesses, and was cooperative with investigators.
Mehta, however, said that it is immaterial whether Chidambaram qualified for denial of bail based on the three key categories. He told the court that it was the prosecution's duty to the nation to get to the bottom of this matter.
There were brief dramatic moments in the courtroom as Chidambaram asked to speak and the Solicitor General vehemently objected to it. But he ultimately made a short statement, saying that he had answered all of CBI's questions and denied allegations of wrongdoing.
Sources in the know told the Millennium Post that Chidambaram's answers and stands taken by other witnesses in the case contradict each other. They added that the agency has also sent LRS to different countries in a bid to establish the payment trail and are waiting for a response.
The senior Congress leader was arrested from his Jor Bagh home after officials scaled the walls of the premises.