The Central Bureau of Investigation today said in the Supreme Court that today it no longer wants Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram’s bail and that the veteran Congressman should be sent to Tihar till September 5. Chidambaram, on the other hand, who had earlier went on great lengths to evade CBI arrest, claimed that he is no longer pressing for bail from the CBI custody.
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CBI had rounded up Chidambaram from his Jor Bagh residence in New Delhi after he dramatically conjured up at the AICC headquarters and addressed the media after remaining hidden for more than 24 hours. He was finally arrested from his residence on August 21, 2019. He has been in the CBI custody for 12 days now.
Chidambaram is being probed by the CBI and Enforcement Directorate over alleged financial irregularities under his supervision while he was serving as India’s Finance Minister under UPA regime.
The prosecutor counsel Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that the leader shouldn’t be granted any relief and immediately be shifted to Tihar Jail as CBI no longer requires his custody. However, Dr AM Singhvi and Kapil Sibal assured that they wouldn’t apply for Chidambaram’s bail till September 5, 2019, if the status quo is maintained.
The Enforcement Directorate, on the other hand, is waiting to arrest Chidambaram, but has to hold out. The apex court will deliver its verdict on former union minister’s pre-CBI arrest bail plea on Thursday, 5th September.
Ignoring SG Tushar Mehta’s suggestions, the SC ordered the status quo to be maintained in the case, effectively ensuring that P Chidambaram stays in CBI custody till then. He would have otherwise sought bail, and if denied, gone to Tihar jail. Chidambaram had denied judicial custody and even offered to stay under house arrest or CBI custody till the Supreme Court delivers its verdict on September 5.