New Delhi: A court here on Thursday sent former Union Minister P Chidambaram to 14 days judicial custody in the INX Media case.
The senior Congress leader, who was arrested by the CBI in the case last month and had undergone interrogation, will be lodged in the Tihar Jail till September 19.
Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram would be treated like a normal prisoner at Tihar Jail and he would be lodged in jail number-7 which is for economic offenders.
Chidambaram’s son Karti Chidambaram was also lodged in the same jail earlier.
The court has allowed the former Union minister to take his medicines along with him. Since Chidambaram enjoys Z-category security, the court also allowed him to be kept in a separate cell with adequate arrangements for his security.
The senior Congress leader, who was arrested by the CBI in the case last month and had undergone interrogation, will be lodged in Tihar Jail till September 19.
Earlier, Chidambaram also moved another application in the court seeking permission to surrender in the Enforcement Directorate case relating to INX Media. The court had issued a notice to the financial watchdogs and the hearing on it would take place on September 12.
During the course of hearing, Chidambaram’s counsel Kapil Sibal said, “There is nothing found against me. If I am a powerful person and I can influence the witness, they should bring some evidence of at least an attempt of tampering of evidence or influencing of witness.”
“Potential of, likely to, apprehension of, can’t be the reasons for me going to the judicial custody,” he added.
Responding on the submissions, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, said, “Are you arguing on bail?”
Sibal replied, “I am arguing on the grounds you are seeking judicial custody for.”
“It is bascially humiliation. There must be proof that has to be given,” Sibal said.
Mehta replied “So far as the ED case is concerned, Supreme Court has accepted the chance of tampering. There is a strong possibility of tampering with the evidence.”