"Government Can't Suppress My Voice In Parliament": P Chidambaram

P Chidambaram arrived in parliament on Thursday, a day after he was released from Delhi's Tihar jail, and told reporters: "The government cannot suppress my voice in parliament". The former union minister, who spent 106 days in prison in connection with the INX Media case, will also address the media later today.

Mr Chidambaram is a Congress member of the Rajya Sabha. He also joined a protest by Congress MPs against the skyrocketing prices of onions.

Last evening, soon after walking out of jail, the senior Congress leader met party president Sonia Gandhi at her home.

"I am happy that Supreme Court has passed an order granting bail and I am happy that I have stepped out and breathing the air of freedom after 106 days," he told reporters.

Mr Chidambaram, 74, walked out of Tihar jail after the Supreme Court granted him bail in a money laundering case linked to the INX Media.

The Supreme Court said Mr Chidambaram cannot travel without its permission and has to appear for questioning when required. He has also been banned from making public statements on the case, giving interviews or contacting witnesses.

The court, noting that economic offences are grave in nature, also said "grant of bail is the rule and refusal is the exception". There was no material to indicate that Mr Chidambaram "or anyone on his behalf had restrained or threatened a witness", the top court said.

Mr Chidambaram was arrested on August 21 by the CBI, which is investigating allegations that as Finance Minister of the country in 2007, he facilitated a huge infusion of foreign funds into the company INX Media founded by Peter and Indrani Mukerjea.

The Enforcement Directorate arrested him on October 16 in connection with money-laundering allegations linked to the case. Mr Chidambaram is accused of creating a web of shell companies and several foreign bank accounts to launder money.