Senior Congress leader and former Finance Minister P Chidambaram has been on the run since last evening after the Delhi High Court rejected both his anticipatory bail pleas. He was last seen at around 5 PM last evening. As per reports, his driver was questioned by the ED who said he had know knowledge about Chidambaram’s whereabouts. Chidambaram’s last known location was Lodhi Road in Delhi. Since then his phone has been switched off.
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Earlier today, a lookout circular was issued against Chidambaram after he was refused interim relief from the Supreme Court. Congress leader and former finance minister P Chidambaram who is an accuse in INX Media scam and faces allegations of corruption and money laundering, has been ‘missing’ since over 18 hours. His anticipatory bail pleas against arrests by CBI and ED were rejected by the Delhi High Court yesterday.
The INX Media case relates to discrepencies and alleged shady dealings in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance given to the media group for international investment funds worth several hundred crores. Chidambaram was the finance minister at that time. As per reports, the ED is hopeful of getting Chidambaram’s custody following which he could be questioned on the source of money through which his son and Congress MP Karti Chidambaram bought various properties in India and abroad including a tennis club in Spain, cottages in the UK. These properties are reportedly valued at Rs 54 crore.
As per the ED, these properties were purchased allegedly using the bribe money in the INX Media scam. Chidambaram as well as his son are co-accused in the INX Media scam as well as Aircel-Maxis 2G scam and both cases are being investigated by the ED and CBI. The duo have also been charge sheeted and their properties, including Chidambaram’s residence in Delhi’s posh Jor Bagh neighbourhood, has been attached.