In an attempt to shield senior Congress leader P Chidambaram from the disgrace of an imminent arrest in the INX Media Scam, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi came out in his defence claiming that the veteran Congress leader is being attacked by ED, CBI and spineless media to character assassinate him.
https://twitter.com/RahulGandhi/status/1164073906040274945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
The Wayanad MP condemned the action against Chidambaram and accused the government of misuse of power. Earlier, Priyanka Gandhi too rallied behind P Chidambaram saying that he is being hunted down by the investigative agencies.
It is noteworthy to mention that the Delhi HC judge made scathing observation regarding P Chidambaram’s role in the INX Media scam. Denying Chidambaram’s anticipatory bail plea, the judge said, “Prima facie it appears that Chidambaram is the kingpin of the scam.” Soon after the judgment, Chidambaram vanished as probe agencies CBI and ED arrived at his residence to arrest him. Since then, Chidambaram’s whereabouts are unknown as he continues to elude agencies to evade arrest.
A battery of lawyers today attempted to seek interim bail from the Supreme Court in this regard. However, the top court refused to give an urgent hearing to the case.
A case was registered in the INX Media Scam in 2017 against alleged irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance to INX media for receiving overseas funds of Rs. 305 crores in 2007, when Chidambaram was Finance Minister. The CBI and ED had both opposed the bail plea.
Both Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram are accused in the INX Media scam which involves charges of bribery and lobbying in granting foreign investments worth over Rs 300 crores to INX Media. INX Media was later known as NewsX, it was owned by Peter and Indrani Mukherjee of the sensational Sheena Bora murder case. ED had initiated a probe on the basis of the Central Bureau of Investigation’s FIR. Chidambaram is accused of misusing his power as the finance minister to grant INX Media an FIPB clearance.