INX Media Case: Delhi High Court To Hear Karti Chidamabaram’s Bail Plea Tomorrow
Patiala High Court sent Karti Chidambaram to judicial custody till March 24.
Karti Chidambaram, son of former Union minister P Chidambaram, today moved the Delhi High Court seeking bail, hours after a court sent him to judicial custody till March 24.
During the hearing at the Patiala House Court, the Central Bureau of Investigation maintained that Karti is still not cooperating in the probe and sought 14-day judicial custody. He was produced before special judge on expiry of his three-day police custody. He has already spent 12 days in police custody since his arrest on Feb. 28.
The Patiala House Court Special judge Sunil Rana declined a request by Karti’s counsels for a separate jail cell in Tihar Jail where he will be housed during the judicial custody. A number of terrorists were prosecuted while Karti's father P Chidamabaram was the home minister and lack of a separate cell could pose a threat to his safety, Karti’s lawyers argued.
The case relates to 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 Union finance minister. The CBI had initially alleged that Karti Chidambaram received Rs 10 lakh as bribe for facilitating the FIPB clearance to INX Media. 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 Pvt Ltd., who recorded a statement under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure before a magistrate, saying bribes were sought for the approval.
Karti will be produced in Patiala House court on March 24 if he fails to get relief from the higher courts.