INX Media Case: CBI Seeks Judicial Custody Of Karti Chidambaram
CBI counsel moves application for judicial custody of Karti Chidambaram in the INX Media case.
The CBI produced Karti Chidambaram in a Delhi court today, after his three-day police custody in the INX Media corruption case expired and he sought 15 days judicial custody.
Karti Chidambaram, son of former Union Minister P Chidambaram, was produced in the court of Special Judge Sunil Rana, before whom CBI Counsel VK Sharma moved an application for judicial custody of the senior Congress leader’s son.
However, Karti Chidambaram’s counsel moved the court to hear his bail plea today itself which was otherwise listed for March 15. He also sought a separate cell in case Karti Chidambaram was sent to judicial custody.
P Chidambaram was also present in the courtroom.
Karti was remanded in CBI custody for three days after the investigative agency claimed it had recovered some incriminating documents and a CD from the Chennai office of Advantage Strategic Pvt. Ltd., a company linked to him.
Karti Chidambaram has been in CBI custody for questioning since his arrest from Chennai Airport on Feb. 28.
He was arrested on his return from the United Kingdom in connection with the FIR lodged on May 15 last year. It alleged irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board clearance to INX Media for receiving overseas funds of about Rs 305 crore in 2007 when his father was the Union finance minister.
The CBI had initially alleged that Karti Chidambaram received Rs 10 lakh as bribe for the FIPB clearance. It, however, later revised the figure to $1 million (about Rs 6.50 crore at the current exchange rate and Rs 4.50 crore in 2007).
The fresh evidence in the case, which triggered Karti Chidambaram’s arrest, was based on the statement of Indrani Mukerjea, former director of INX Media (P) Ltd, who recorded it under Section 164 of CrPC before a magistrate on Feb. 17.