The Delhi High Court on Wednesday extended till September 28 the interim protection from arrest granted to former Union minister P Chidambaram in the INX Media case filed by the Enforcement Directorate, PTI reported.
Chidambaram had moved an anticipatory bail petition in the High Court on July 23. The court had initially granted him interim protection till August 1. The petition said that although the ED had not issued summons to Chidambaram in this case, he had an apprehension of arrest because of summons from the Central Bureau of Investigation.
Justice AK Pathak told the Enforcement Directorate to file a reply within four weeks. The Central Bureau of Investigation, which had earlier sought time to file a response, told the court on Wednesday that it has filed its reply. The case will next be heard on September 28.
Chidambaram’s alleged role is being scrutinised in the Rs 3,500-crore Aircel-Maxis deal and the Rs 305-crore INX Media case.
In May 2017, the ED filed a money laundering case against the former finance minister’s son Karti Chidambaram, INX Media and its directors Indrani Mukerjea and Peter Mukerjea. The agency accused Karti Chidambaram’s company of receiving a bribe of Rs 10 lakh to help INX Media escape punishemnt for taking Rs 305 crore in foreign funding in 2007 despite having clearance from the Foreign Exchange Promotion Board for only Rs 4 crore.
P Chidambaram was then the Union Finance Minister. Karti Chidamabaram has denied any wrongdoing in the case.
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