The Supreme Court (SC,) on the 5th of September, rejected the anticipatory bail petition of P. Chidambaram, the former Finance Minister of India.
Chidambaram filed a petition for an anticipatory bail and arrest protection from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED.) The CBI and the ED arrested Chidambaram for his involvement in a 2007 money laundering case and are investigating the case since 2015.
A bench of 3, comprising Ranjan Gogoi, the Chief Justice of India (CJI,) Justice R. Banumathi and Justice A.S. Boappanna, reviewed the case. The bench said the ED does not have to produce all the evidence in the Court.
The Court said, “The right to anticipatory bail can’t be a subject matter of fundamental right under Article 32.” The Apex Court further added, “This is not a fit case for grant of anticipatory bail. The investigating agency has to be given enough freedom to probe. Grant of anticipatory bail at this stage will hamper the investigation. Accused may move regular bail before the appropriate court.”
Chidambaram is in the custody of the CBI since the 21st of August and will remain in custody for further investigation, as now, the CBI and the ED are free to arrest Chidambaram.
P. Chidambaram withdrew the case against the ED and the CBI and filed a fresh petition in the trial court, seeking bail.
Apart from this, the SC also heard another petition filed by P. Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram related to the Aircel Maxis case. The SC granted arrest protection to Karti Chidambaram and P. Chidambaram in the case from the CBI and the ED.
As of now, P. Chidambaram is in the custody of the CBI for the INX Media case.
Stay tuned for further updates.
