NE NEWS SERVICE
NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 4
After remaining in custody for 106 days, Supreme Court on Wednesday granted bail to senior Congress leader and former finance minister P Chidambaram. The bail has been granted on a personal bond of Rs 2 lakh with two sureties.
Arrested by CBI on August 21, Chidambaram has been in custody for the last 106 days. The SC had granted him bail in the CBI case on October 22, after 58 days of custody. But ED had arrested him on October 17, and he has been under ED custody since then.In the last hearing on November 28, the senior Congress leader had told the SC that he has been kept in jail “unfairly” for the last 98 days just because he is the father of Karti, a key accused in the INX Media money laundering case, and there was not a “single evidence” linking him to it.
After the hearing, the top court had reserved its order on the bail plea.
The SC observed that the former finance minister had participated in the investigation.
It also criticised Delhi HC for making observations on the merits of the case. It said that despite the triple test being found in Chidambaram’s favour, observations were made on merit.Bench observes that economic offences are also ‘grave’. Conditions of bail — Rs 2 lakh bond, 2 sureties – cannot contact witness – cannot travel without permission – cannot make press statements regarding case – must make himself available for interrogation.
