Former union minister P Chidambaram was today arrested over the INX media case amid high drama outside his residence, which saw CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials climb the walls of his residence to make the arrest. A huge presence of P Chidambaram's supporters and those protesting his arrest, along with a huge media presence resulted in chaos and the calling of the CRPF to reign in the security situation.
Earlier today evening, P Chidambaram appeared at the party office and addressed a press conference. Referring to the CBI's lookout circular against him in the INX Media case, he said he was not hiding from the law, but was seeking protection from it.
Earlier, Mr Chidambaram was granted no immediate relief by the Supreme Court this morning after he asked for an urgent hearing on his petition against the rejection of anticipatory bail in the INX Media case. "It is a monumental magnitude of money laundering case," the CBI told the top court, which forwarded his petition to the Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi.
The Supreme Court will hear P Chidambaram's plea on the INX Media case on Friday, as per lawyers.
In his petition, Mr Chidambaram had told the Supreme Court to take up his case for interim relief urgently, arguing that his antecedents are impeccable and there was no possibility of him "fleeing from justice". Requesting more time to appear before the CBI, Mr Chidambaram asked for interim relief "or else he would suffer irreparable loss".
Here are the LIVE Updates in the INX Media case:
Former Union minister P Chidambaram was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation this evening after high drama outside his South Delhi home, complete with slogan-shouting supporters, police and unprecedented visuals of investigators scaling walls and roof to gain access. He has been taken to the agency office for questioning.
Congress leader P Chidambaram, who had gone incommunicado for a day after his anticipatory bail in the INX Media case was rejected, was on Wednesday arrested by the CBI amid unprecedented drama at his Delhi residence. Video footage showed the officials scaling walls to enter the house.
Former Union minister P Chidambaram was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation this evening after high drama outside his South Delhi home, complete with slogan-shouting supporters, police and unprecedented visuals of investigators scaling walls and roof to gain access. He has been taken to the agency office for questioning.
Former Union minister P Chidambaram arrived at the party office of the Congress this evening after daylong BJP accusations of evading arrest. The senior Congress leader was not seen since the High Court denied him protection from arrest on Tuesday, after which the CBI visited his home in Delhi twice.
Former Union minister P Chidambaram arrived at the party office of the Congress this evening after daylong BJP accusations of evading arrest. The senior Congress leader was not seen since the High Court denied him protection from arrest on Tuesday, after which the CBI visited his home in Delhi twice.
The Congress should be ashamed that its senior leader P Chidambaram has turned into an "absconder", the BJP said today after daylong attack from leaders of the opposition party over what it called "persecution" of citizens.
A day after probe agencies summoned Union Minister P Chidambaram in an alleged money laundering case involving INX Media, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor came out in his support with a tweet claiming that justice will prevail in the end. And true to his style, he took the opportunity to treat his followers on social media to yet another tongue twister of a word.
The agency has alerted all the airports to prevent Chidambaram from boarding a flight, they said, adding the circular was issued recently.
Tamil Nadu Fisheries Minister and senior AIADMK leader D Jayakumar said the central agencies-- CBI and ED--were acting against Chidambaram following a "court decision," apparently referring to the Delhi High Court denying the Congress veteran anticipatory bail in the case on Tuesday.
"The court itself has said he is the kingpin (in the money laundering case)...any case has to be faced, there is no point running away," he was quoted as saying by news agency PTI, in an apparent reference to the whereabouts of the former Union Minister allegedly not being known.
"It will be good for him to face the case," Mr Jayakumar added.
AIADMK ally DMDK, led by actor-turned-politician Vijayakant said that anyone who has committed corruption should face punishment.
The Congress today rallied behind its senior leader and former Union Minister P Chidambaram, who is wanted by two investigative agencies in a corruption case. A lookout notice was issued this morning against the former minister as CBI and the Enforcement Directorate failed to locate him since last evening. While Rahul Gandhi called it a "disgraceful misuse of power", his sister Priyanka Gandhi said the former minister was being "shamefully hunted down".