CBI arrests Chidambaram in INX Media case, takes him to HQ : The Tribune India

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CBI arrests Chidambaram in INX Media case, takes him to HQ

CBI officials arrest Congress leader P Chidambaram from his Jor Bagh residence in New Delhi on Wednesday. PTI photo

Tribune News Service
New Delhi, August 21

The Central Bureau of Investigation arrested former home minister P.Chidambaram over allegations of corruption , bringing to an end two days of drama that both unfolded inside and outside courts of law.

After his arrest, Chidambaram was taken to hospital.

Television channels showed images of the CBI driving away with the 73-year-old Chidambaram. News agency Press Trust of India said he was taken to the investigating agency's headquarters.

After hours of being untraceable, Chidambaram put up a dramatic appearance at the Congress headquarters at the national capital, where he addressed the press.

"In the last 24 hours, much has happened that has caused concern to some and confusion to many. In INX Media case, I've not been accused of any offence nor any one else including any member of my family. There is no charge sheet filed by either ED or CBI before a competent court," he told the press gathared there. "I was aghast that I was accused of hiding from the law. On the contrary, I was seeking protection of law. My lawyers tell that cases will be listed on Friday. I bow down to orders of SC. I respect law even if it is applied with an unequal hand by probe agencies."

”All charges are lies spread by pathological liars,” he said.

He said he was working with his lawyers through the last night, preparing his papers or his bail application.

"Until Friday and beyond, let's hope the lamp of liberty will shine bright and illuminate the whole country," he said, suggesting that the probe agencies should not arrest him until the apex court decides on his bail plea.

"I will respect law even if applied with an unequal hand by probe agencies," he said reading out from a written statement and flanked by several senior Congress leaders.

Chidambaram, who was flanked by senior Congress leaders, took no questions. He left the party headquarters soon after he finished, and headed towards his Jor Bagh residence with senior Congress leaders, Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi— who are also his lawyers.

The development comes hours after the Supreme Court said it would hear Chidambaram's plea for protection against arrest on Friday.

Chidambaram’s lawyers had been trying to get the apex court to hear his case on urgent basis since Tuesday, hours after his anticipatory bail application was rejected. On Wednesday, they waited for Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi to wrap up the day’s hearing in the ongoing Ayodhya dispute, but the Bench rose without hearing the former home minister's appeal.

Chidambaram had filed a Special Leave Petition in the Supreme Court challenging the Delhi High Court’s order rejecting his anticipatory bail plea.

The Delhi High Court had on Tuesday dismissed his anticipatory bail plea, calling the INX Media scam a “classic case of money laundering”. The court also refused to give him tempoary protection from arrest, his leaving him open to the possibility of immediate detention.

The Supreme Court refused to hear his petition on urgent basis, instead agreeing to hear it on Friday. With agencies