New Delhi: In more trouble for former finance minister P Chidambaram, the Supreme Court on Thursday refused him anticipatory bail in the INX Media case lodged by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
The court added that Chidambaram would not be shown all materials collected by ED at this stage and neither does the agency need to produce the transcripts of the senior Congress leader’s questioning in court.
Calling economic offences “serious", court said anticipatory bail has to be an exception in such cases. “The right to anticipatory bail can't be a subject matter of fundamental right under Article 32," the SC added.
"This is not a fit case for grant of anticipatory bail. Investigating agency has to be given enough freedom to probe. Grant of anticipatory bail at this stage will hamper the investigation. Accused may move regular bail before the appropriate court," the court said.
Chidambaram, who was arrested on August 21, is in the CBI custody till Thursday in the INX Media corruption case. The top court had on September 3 ordered that Chidambaram would remain in the CBI custody till September 5 despite the probe agency insisting that it did not require his further custodial interrogation.
CBI had lodged an FIR on May 15, 2017, alleging irregularities in FIPB clearance granted to INX Media group for receiving overseas funds of Rs 305 crore in 2007 during Chidambaram's tenure as finance minister. Thereafter, ED lodged a money laundering case in 2017.
The Delhi High Court had on August 20 rejected Chidambaram's anticipatory bail pleas in the INX media scam cases lodged by the CBI and the ED. If the apex court gives relief in both cases, Chidambaram will be out on bail.
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