Supreme Court on Tuesday directed that the status quo would be maintained and former union minister P Chidambaram would stay in CBI custody till September 5, for his alleged involvement in the INX media case. “Status quo till September 5 shall be maintained and the petitioner, Chidamabaram, would remain in CBI custody till September 5,” the apex court division bench, led by Justice R Banumathi said. The top court said he (Chidamabaram) won’t press for bail before the trial / sessions court, until Friday when the case will be heard next.
Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta, senior lawyer for the Enforcement Directorate (ED), submitted to the apex court that the SC should not regulate the proceedings pending before the trial court. Justice Banumathi told Kapil Sibal, Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi, (lawyers for Chidamabaram), that they shouldn’t press the bail application before the trial court. The senior lawyers agreed they will wait till September 5 and they won’t press for bail. The SC is likely to pass the order on that day.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday told the top court that the probe agency did not want further custody of the former finance minister and senior veteran Congress leader, Chidambaram. The CBI also told the court that the SC must allow law to take it’s own course, indicating that the former minister should be sent to Tihar under judicial custody.Chidambaram is in CBI custody at present for his alleged involvement in the INX media case. The other judge, in the two-judge bench of the top court, in the INX media case was Justice AS Bopanna. Karti Chidamabaram, his son, is on bail in the case. (UNI)
