SC Gives Chidambaram Interim Protection From Tihar; Asks Him To Approach Lower Court For Bail

'If trial court rejects Chidambaram's bail plea, his CBI custody will be extended till Thursday', the SC ordered on Monday

P. Chidambaram. (FILE PIC/AFP)

New Delhi: The Supreme Court asked Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram to approach the concerned court for interim protection and also ordered that he be not sent to Tihar Jail, if trial court rejects his bail plea, his CBI custody to be extended till Thursday. P Chidambaram's lawyer Kapil Sibal in Supreme Court during hearing against Chidambaram's police remand and issuance of non-bailable warrant, said: “He is a 74-year-old man, put him under house arrest, no prejudice will be caused to anyone.” On Friday, a Delhi Court extended by three days the CBI custody of P Chidambaram, arrested in a corruption case arising from the INX Media scam till September 2. The order was passed by Special Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar before whom Chidambaram was produced on the expiry of four-day custodial interrogation granted on August 26. Chidambaram, 73, has been already subjected to custodial interrogation by the CBI for eight days since his arrest on August 21, after the Delhi High Court on August 20 dismissed his anticipatory bail plea. Chidambaram, who was Union home minister as also finance minister during the UPA rule from 2004 to 2014, was arrested by the CBI on August 21 from his Jor Bagh residence. He was earlier produced before the court on August 22 and was remanded to four-day CBI custody. The CBI had registered an FIR on May 15, 2017, alleging irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance granted to the INX Media group for receiving overseas funds of Rs 305 crore in 2007 during Chidambaram's tenure as the finance minister. Thereafter, the Enforcement Directorate lodged a money laundering case in this regard in 2017.