INX Media Case: ED Arrests Former FM Chidambaram After Questioning at Tihar Jail

INX Media Case: ED Arrests Former FM Chidambaram After Questioning at Tihar Jail

New Delhi: In a significant development, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has arrested former finance minister P Chidambaram in the INX Media case today.

ED sleuths reached Tihar Jail on Wednesday to grill the 74-year-old Congress leader who has been in prison since September 5.

Seeking Chidambaram’s arrest, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the ED had told Special CBI judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar that there is a finding by the Supreme Court that custodial interrogation of Chidambaram is necessary.

Kuhar allowed the ED to go to Tihar Jail and interrogate Chidambaram and arrest him, if required. “It’s not of the dignity of this person that you interrogate and arrest him here in public view,” the court said.

Chidambaram was remanded to judicial custody till October 17 in the INX Media corruption case filed by the CBI. The special court on October 3 extended the judicial custody of Chidambaram till October 17 in the case filed by the CBI.

The CBI had registered an FIR for alleged irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance to INX media in May 2017 for receiving overseas funds to the tune of ₹305 crore in 2007, when Chidambaram was the finance minister. Thereafter, the ED lodged a money laundering cases against him.