INX Media Case: Court Accepts CBI Chargesheet Against Former FM P Chidambaram

A Delhi court on Monday took cognisance of the chargesheet filed against former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram in the INX Media case. The court asked for the former minister to be presented before it on October 24.

Court has summoned Chidambaram to be produced in the court on October 24. (File Photo/ Getty)

New Delhi: A Delhi court on Monday took cognisance of the chargesheet filed against former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram in the INX Media case. The court asked for the former minister to be presented before it on October 24. The court also issued summons to all other accused chargesheeted in the case. However, the date of their appearance will be given later. A CBI source said that the court has summoned Chidambaram to be produced in the court on October 24 while the rest of the other accused on November 29. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Friday filed a chargesheet in the case against Chidambaram and his son Karti and others. The chargesheet filed by the agency names 14 accused including Peter Mukerjea, Karti Chidambaram, P. Chidambaram, Karti's accountant Bhaskar and some bureaucrats. The agency has also named firms INX Media, Chess Management and ASCL. P. Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram were named in the case by Peter and Indrani Mukerjea, who are currently in jail in Mumbai in connection with the murder of Indrani's daughter Sheena Bora. The ED too had filed a money laundering case against Chidambaram in 2017. Chidambaram, who was arested on August 21 by the CBI is currently in the seven-day ED custody till October 24. Supreme Court will deliver its order on the bail plea of Chidambaram in the INX media case on Tuesday. The order will be delivered by a bench of Justices R. Banumathi, A.S. Bopanna and Hrishikesh Roy. On October 18, the court had reserved its order on former minister's plea challenging the Delhi High Court order dismissing his bail plea. CBI has opposed the bail plea of Chidambaram, saying that he had tried to "pressurise and influence" key witnesses in the INX Media case. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta has told the court that the statements of witnesses showing a clear case of former minister influencing them was seen by the high court, based on which a categorical finding was recorded by it. Mehta said that the statements of witnesses are placed before the trial court but not along with the charge sheet so as to ensure anonymity of these witnesses and to ensure that they are not further pressurized. Chidambaram was arrested on August 21, and is currently lodged in Tihar jail in judicial custody. The CBI on Friday charge sheeted him with other accused in the INX media corruption case.