SC notice to CBI on PC’s bail plea

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, October 4

The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to the CBI on senior Congress leader and former Finance Minister P Chidambaram’s petition seeking bail in a corruption case relating to the INX Media case.

Asking the CBI to respond to Chidambaram’s bail plea by October 14, a Bench headed by Justice R Banumathi posted the matter for hearing on October 15.

Chidambaram (74) will be at Tihar Jail — where he has been lodged since September 5 — during Dusehra. Special Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar had on Thursday remanded him to judicial custody till October 17.

On behalf of Chidambaram, senior advocate Kapil Sibal said the high court had said he was not a flight risk and was not likely to tamper with evidence. It had rejected his bail plea only on suspicion of influencing witnesses.

The HC “erred” in dismissing his bail plea on the mere apprehension that he might influence the witnesses, without any supporting material, and on the basis of unverified allegations that do not allege or point anything against him, he said. Terming his continuing incarceration as a “form of punishment”, Chidambaram had on Thursday moved the Supreme Court for regular bail in the case. He has challenged the Delhi High Court’s September 30 verdict denying him bail.

In his bail plea, he contended that liberty of an individual cannot be denied on the basis of “anonymous and unverified allegations”. He has also cited his “frail” health as grounds for bail and said he was not “accustomed” to food given to him in the jail and has lost 4 kg weight during his judicial custody. The Special Court had allowed him home cooked food inside jail once a day as an exception.