A Delhi Court on Friday dismissed Former UPA era Union Minister P Chidambaram’s plea to surrender himself to the Enforcement Directorate. Chidambaram had moved an application to the court seeking relief from the judicial custody in Tihar Jail by agreeing to surrender to the Enforcement Directorate.
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Chidambaram’s surrender plea was dismissed by Special CBI Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar. Yesterday, the ED told the CBI court that did not want the custody of P Chidambaram as of now. It further stated that the agency would approach the court when it would feel the need to get custody of the former finance minister. The ED had asked the court to dismiss P Chidambaram’s petition on the grounds that an accused could not suggest the procedure and manner of investigation or dictate when he could be arrested.
The ED reportedly told the court that the accused cannot steer the mode and manner of investigation or dictate when he could be arrested. It also submitted that as Chidambaram is in custody, he cannot tamper with evidence or influence witnesses. The ED also added that they will use the time to gather more evidence.
Chidambaram is currently held under judicial custody in Tihar Jail for his alleged role of misusing his cabinet position to grant several clearances to the INX Media house while he was the finance minister in the UPA era. Chidambaram had earlier gone on great lengths to first evade the CBI arrest and then desperately try to skirt his judicial custody in Tihar Jail. P Chidambaram had earlier sought protection from arrest by the ED but the Supreme Court had then turned down his anticipatory bail application.