INX Media Case: P Chidambaram sent to CBI custody for four days

New Delhi : Former Union Minister P Chidambaram has been sent to CBI custody for four day over his alleged involvement in the INX Media case. A Delhi court ordered CBI custody on request of the federal agency.

P Chidambaram was presented before the court at around 3 PM after a medical check-up. His son Krati Chidambaram and wife had reached the court complex hours before him. So did his team of lawyers including senior Congress leaders Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Singhvi.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, the government’s second most-senior law officer, who pitched for CBI custody said the ex-minister’s responses to investigators were evasive and his custodial interrogation was crucial.

“Right to silence is a constitutional right and I have no issue, but he is non cooperative, he was evasive to questioning,” Mehta said, describing the INX Media case as a “classic case of money laundering”.

“We are at the pre charge sheet stage and the material is with him... He remained non cooperative,” he said, according to news agency ANI.

Kapil Sibal, who asked the court to release Chidambaram on bail, argued that Karti Chidambaram, also an accused in this case, was released on bail in the case and there was no reason to hold his father in custody.

P Chidambaram was arrested by the CBI officials on Wednesday evening from his residence after a high end drama of officials scaling his house walls to gain access to the house.

Congress strongly criticized the manner of arrest, other opposition leaders, right from DMK’s MK Stalin and Trinamool Congress boss Mamata Banerjee, have also spoken against the manner in which the arrests were made.