P. Chidambaram News Update:
On Thursday, after a CBI Court ordered for judicial custody, Former Union Minister P Chidambaram was taken to Delhi’s Tihar jail for two weeks i.e. till 19th Sept. 2019 in a corruption investigation.
75th Birthday in Jail
According to the sources, P Chidambaram, 74 years old, will be in “Jail No 7, ward number 2, cell number 15. More than 700 inmates are lodged in jail number 7” of Asia’s biggest prison complex which is Tihar Jail, in Delhi, till 19th September 2019. As per the jail rule book, breakfast will be served between 7 to 8 am lunch at noon, tea at 4 pm and dinner between 7 pm to 8 pm. Chidambaram will be kept in a separate cell. So, as like other prisoners, Chidambaram will too be allowed to watch TV for 1.5 hours in a day. He had strongly argued to get a separate cell against judicial custody. That means P Chidambaram will have to spend his 75th birthday – on 16th September 2019 in jail.
Kapil Sibal Argued Against Judicial Custody
Soon after the court ruling, the senior Congress leader’s lawyer and party colleague Kapil Sibal requested a separate cell for him, a cot, a toilet with western facilities and medicines, which were granted as he has Z-security. Even though Mr. Sibal had argued strongly against judicial custody, saying Mr. Chidambaram was ready to surrender before the Enforcement Directorate custody if the court wants, but why to judicial custody? Further this, Chidambaram had said, referring to the Supreme Court order this morning denying him protection from arrest by the Enforcement Directorate. Former Finance Minister also said he is only worried about the economy of the country, as he was led out after the hearing.
Court Sent in Judicial Custody
But the CBI said in court that the accused is a powerful and influential person. So, he should be sent to judicial custody and The Enforcement Directorate wants Mr. Chidambaram’s custody for investigations into their money-laundering charge. Mr. Sibal countered that there had been no case of tampering or influencing evidence until now. The CBI accuses Chidambaram of misusing his position as Finance Minister of India in 2007. Chidambaram and his son were named by INX Media co-founders Peter Mukerjea and Indrani Mukerjea. They are currently jailed in Mumbai in connection with the murder of Indrani’s daughter Sheena Bora. Karti Chidambaram, who allegedly received kickbacks for his role in securing the foreign funds, was arrested in 2018 and released after 23 days.
Earlier on Thursday, the Supreme Court, while refusing to grant Chidambaram protection from arrest by Enforcement Directorate. They said: “Anticipatory bail has to be exercised sparingly in cases of economic offenses. Considering the facts and circumstances, this is not a fit case to grant anticipatory bail.
The court said that the investigating agency has to be given sufficient freedom to conduct its probe. Grant of anticipatory bail at this stage would hamper an investigation. Then, the court ordered to send Chidambaram to Judicial Custody by today.