5 years ago
Hearing is on in the Supreme Court on the petitions filed by Congress leader P Chidambaram who was arrested last week amid high drama from his south Delhi home.
The former union minister has petitioned the Supreme Court and has appealed for bail in the INX Media money-laundering and corruption cases.
Earlier today, he received a setback as his petition challenging his CBI custody was not listed for a hearing in the top court. The top court then also refused to give him relief from arrest from CBI, calling his pleas "infructuous".
On Friday, the top court had granted Mr Chidambaram protection from arrest till Monday in the money-laundering case filed by the Enforcement Directorate. However, it was not a relief for P Chidambaram who was sent to CBI custody till Monday.
Here are the live updates in the hearing in top court on petitions by P Chidambaram:
P Chidambaram Case: P Chidambaram's CBI Custody Extended To Friday After Bad Day In CourtsP Chidambaram will be in CBI custody for four more days, till Friday, a Delhi court said today, wrapping up a bad day in courts for the former Union Minister arrested in a corruption investigation last Wednesday. The CBI had asked a special court for more custody alleging that he had been "uncooperative". Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court refused to take up his request for protection from arrest by the CBI, saying it was "infructuous" after his arrest. Arguments on Mr Chidambaram's second request for protection against arrest by the Enforcement Directorate were inconclusive. A third petition, challenging his arrest by the CBI, was not even listed
CBI court extends P Chidambaram's custody till Friday.
Earlier, the ex-finance minister had been sent to CBI custody for five days. The CBI today sought five more days. He has been sent for further custodial interrogation by CBI till August 30 by Delhi court
P Chidambaram Produced To Special CBI Court
During the last five days of custody, P Chidambaram didn't cooperate: CBI to court
During the last five days of custody, P Chidambaram didn't cooperate: CBI to court
CBI seeks five more days of custody for P Chidambaram
In top court, Mr Sibal said today that the Delhi High Court "just copy-pasted the ED note in the judgement and is shown as findings of the court to deny anticipatory bail".
After Mr Sibal made his claims, the top court says it is only looking into whether the Delhi High Court order is right or wrong.
Who Do They Need Custody? Asks Kapil Sibal
After the hearing in the top court resumed post lunch, Kapil Sibal asked the top court: "Why does the ED need the custody?"
After the hearing in the top court resumed post lunch, Kapil Sibal asked the top court: "Why does the ED need the custody?"
"First probe and find out something, then put it to court and the accused... then seek custody," he said.
"The top court has to examine whether the high court wisely examined its powers to deny anticipatory bail," he also said.
P Chidambaram was examined by the CBI only once, Mr Sibal told the top court today. He also claimed that "the CBI or the Enforcement Directorate never asked the Congress leader about the bank accounts shell companies".
"It Is Media Trial": Kapil Sibal Tells Top Court
In the last five days, CBI has also not given any documents, Mr Sibal said today. "It is media trial," he told the top court
In the last five days, CBI has also not given any documents, Mr Sibal said today. "It is media trial," he told the top court
On ED's claim that a case diary has been presented against P Chidamabaram in the court, Mr Sibal said that the "case diary can't be used" against the Congress leader.
Mr Sibal also said he was examined thrice in December and in January.
Countering Mr Sibal, Enforcement Directorate today said that Mr Chidambaram's lawyer have argued the case on TV debates.
Challenging the Delhi High Court order, P Chidambaram's lawyer Kapil Sibal today said: "The high court passed orders based on ED notes and we were not given copy." He also alleged that the probe agency leaked a copy to the media.
After the top court order, the CBI court will now decide on P Chidambaram's custody, which ends today
The court is now hearing Mr Chidambaram's petition for protection from arrest by the Enforcement Directorate.
The top court today said that P Chidambaram's plea against the CBI is now "infructuous" since he is already in the custody of the probe agency. The court asked the Congress leader to move regular bail before appropriate court.
On P Chidambaram's arrest by CBI, his lawyer Abhishek Singhvi said: "Arrest happened after we moved the top court. It is my Article 21. Can the act of court harm my right."
