The apex court is set to pronounce verdict on former Finance minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram‘s plea seeking bail in INX media money laundering case on Wednesday. The court reserved its judgement on the appeal filed by Chidambaram who challenged the November 15 verdict of the Delhi High Court denying him bail in the case.
Earlier, the ED claimed in Supreme court that the 74-year-old Congress leader continues to wield ‘substantial influence’ on crucial witnesses in the case, despite being in custody. Opposing his bail plea, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who represented the ED, said that economic offences like money laundering are grave in nature as they not only affect the nation’s economy but also shake people’s faith in the system.
Senior lawyers Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who were representing the former finance minister, countered Mehta’s arguments and said there was no evidence or material that link Chidambaram directly or indirectly with the alleged offence.
Chidambaram was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on August 21. Initially, he was in police custody and was subsequently remanded to judicial custody and then, sent to Tihar jail. Chidambaram was granted bail by the top court on October 22. However, he was not freed as the Enforcement Directorate has been investigating money laundering case against him.