HIGHLIGHTS: CBI Arrests P Chidambaram; To Be Produced In Court On Thursday

Background

NEW DELHI:   Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram, who was "untraceable" since Tuesday evening after failing to obtain interim relief from the Supreme Court to the denial of his anticipatory bail plea, appeared at the Congress office here on Wednesday to address a press conference. He appeared at the party headquarters, hours after his petition challenging the Delhi High Court rejection of anticipatory bail was not listed in the Supreme Court.

"In the last 24 hours much has happened and that has caused concern to some and confusion to many. In the INX Media case, I have not been accused of any offence nor anyone else including any member of my family. There is no charge sheet filed by either the ED or the CBI before a competent court," Chidambaram said.

"I am aghast that I was accused of hiding from the law, on the contrary, I was seeking protection of law. My lawyers tell that cases will be listed on Friday. I bow down to orders of the Supreme Court. I respect the law even if it is applied with an unequal hand by probe agencies," he told the media.




"I believe that the foundation of a democracy is liberty, most precious article of the constitution is Article 21 that guarantees life and liberty. If I am asked to choose between life and liberty, I will choose liberty," he added.


The former finance minister failed on Wednesday to get protection from the Supreme Court which decided to hear on Friday his petition seeking stay of the Delhi High Court order that had dismissed his anticipatory bail plea.

Registrar (Judicial) informed Chidambaram's lawyers that Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi has listed the matter for hearing on Friday. Soon after getting the message from Registrar (Judicial), a team of lawyers led by senior advocate Kapil Sibal had short deliberation in the consultation room after which they left the apex court.

Chidambaram, who was home minister and finance minister in the UPA government from 2004-2014, had sought a stay on the Delhi High Court's Tuesday judgement dismissing his anticipatory bail plea, paving the way for his arrest in cases related to the INX Media scam. The cases have been lodged by the CBI and the ED.

A big commotion was seen in the top court from 10:30 am to 5 pm as three attempts were made by his lawyers seeking urgent hearing on Wednesday itself, but the CJI decided that the case will be heard on Friday.

23:09 PM (IST)  •  21 Aug 2019

#WATCH Police remove the two men who jumped onto the car in which Congress leader P Chidambaram was being taken to the CBI headquarters today. #Delhi pic.twitter.com/8buFkAY26U

— ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2019

23:03 PM (IST)  •  21 Aug 2019

Several Congress suppoters attacked the CBI office after the investigative agency arrested former FM P Chidambaram in connection with the INX Media case.

22:54 PM (IST)  •  21 Aug 2019

Former FM, P Chidambaram will be presented in the Rouse Avenue Court on Thursday at around 2 pm by the CBI. Further actions will taken after Court's directive.

22:43 PM (IST)  •  21 Aug 2019

Karti Chidambaram on being asked 'who is doing all this?', in Chennai: Yes, of course, all of this is being done by BJP. Who else? You think Donald Trump? No. #PChidambaram pic.twitter.com/vWb72ymyJT

— ANI (@ANI) August 21, 2019

22:43 PM (IST)  •  21 Aug 2019

ED has summoned him a number of times and he has appeared every time. We will go to the court, we will be vindicated eventually: Chidambaram's son Karti Chidambaram to news agency ANI