SC rejects anticipatory bail plea of Chidambaram in INX Media case

The Supreme Court on Thursday (September 5) rejected the appeal of Congress leader P Chidambaram against the Delhi High Court’s order rejecting his anticipatory bail plea in the INX Media case being probed by both the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The bench of Justices R Banumathi and AS Bopanna observed that granting anticipatory bail during the initial stage might frustrate the investigation. “It’s not a fit case to grant anticipatory bail. Economic offences stand at different footing and it has to be dealt with a different approach.”

It further added that Chidambaram will not be shown the materials collected by the ED at this stage. “The ED does not need to produce the transcripts of Chidambaram’s questioning in the court,” Supreme Court said.

However, the apex court has said that he can move a regular bail application in the lower court for regular bail.

With this ruling, the ED is free to arrest Chidambaram in the INX media case.

Incidentally, Chidambaram is currently in CBI custody in the same case since his arrest on August 21.