September 05, 2019 18:12 IST
Considering that he has Z-security, the court directed Chidambaram be kept in separate cell in the jail.
IMAGE: Congress leader P Chidambaram after being produced at Rouse Avenue Court in connection with INX media case, in New Delhi. Photograph: Kamal Kishore/PTI Photo
A Delhi court on Thursday sent former home and finance minister P Chidambaram to Tihar jail in the INX Media corruption case.
Special Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar sent Chidambaram to 14-day judicial custody till September 19.
The court allowed him to carry his medicines to jail.
Considering that he has Z-security, the court directed Chidambaram be kept in separate cell in the jail.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta assured that there will be adequate security for Chidambaram in jail.
With regard to Chidambaram's plea seeking to surrender in the money laundering case, the court issued notice to Enforcement Directorate.
Chidambaram, 73, was produced before a Delhi court on Thursday after the expiry of his two-day Central Bureau of Investigation custody in the case.
Chidambaram's 15-day CBI custody, ordered by the special court in five spells, which started after his arrest on August 21 night, ended on Thursday the probe agency said that he be sent to judicial custody.
Chidambaram's counsel opposed the CBI plea for judicial custody and said that the veteran Congress leader was ready to go into the ED custody for interrogation in the money laundering case arising out of the scam in which the apex court on Thursday refused to grant him pre-arrest bail.
Chidambaram was brought to the special court hours after he withdrew his petition challenging the non-bailable warrant (NBW) issued against him following which he was sent to the CBI custody.
The apex court on Thursday also decided on his appeal against the Delhi high court's August 20 order in the money laundering case lodged by ED and rejected his challenge to denial of anticipatory bail.
Hours after the apex court order, another special court granted Chidambaram and his son Karti anticipatory bail in the Aircel Maxis cases.
In the INX matter, Solicitor General Mehta was appearing for the CBI while senior advocate Kapil Sibal was representing Chidambaram.
During the proceedings, Mehta informed the judge about the outcome of the Supreme Court's order in the ED case and also about the withdrawal of his petitions in the CBI case.
The CBI told the court that Chidambaram can be sent to judicial custody as he was a powerful public person and should not be set free.
Sibal opposed the CBI saying there was no allegation that Chidambaram tried to influence or hamper probe.
He further said that Chidambaram was ready to go to the ED custody in money laundering case related to INX Media in which the apex court Thursday dismissed his plea challenging the High Court's August 20 order.
Sibal said Chidambaram will surrender and ED will take him into custody.
"Why should I (Chidambaram) be sent to jail (Tihar)?" he said and pressed that ED should take him to its custody.
"There is nothing found against me. There is no charge sheet. They say I am a powerful and influential. But they have no evidence. There is no evidence of tampering with evidence. Has a witness said anything like that?" Sibal argued.
The Solicitor General objected to Sibal's submission saying he is arguing for bail.
However, Sibal said, "The reasons given in the application for judicial custody are non-existent. What do you need me for in judicial custody?"
When the Solicitor General sought a clarification as to for what relief Sibal is arguing the latter said, "I (Chidambaram) am arguing for my release."
Mehta said the apex court has accepted his arguments in the money laundering case lodged the ED and there is a strong chance of tampering with evidence and witnesses and response is awaited on the Letters Rogatory sent to various countries.
The law officer alleged that Chidambaram was influencing the banks in foreign countries and he was non-cooperative in the investigation and the banks may not cooperate if he influences them.
"This is a case of serious economic offence affecting economy of the country," he said, adding that Chidambaram is influential and have pervasive control over things and may influence witnesses.
Mehta referred to a statement of a witness and said this witness can be easily influenced by Chidambaram. He refused to name the witness in open court.
The law officer said stage has not come to consider release of Chidambaram.
He further said that Chidambaram was arguably arguing for bail.
To this, Sibal said it was not an argument for bail but for release.
"There is no justification for judicial custody. There is not an iota of evidence placed before this court. It is all documentary. What will I tamper with," Sibal said.
Mehta said, "This is a case for judicial custody till the bail of Chidambaram was decided. Judicial custody is a natural progression."
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