Delhi HC denies bail to Chidambaram in INX Media money laundering case

The Delhi
High Court Friday denied bail to former finance minister P Chidambaram in the
INX Media money laundering case filed by the ED, saying prima facie allegations
against him are serious in nature and he played active and key role in the
offence.

Justice
Suresh Kait said that wrong message will be sent to the society if bail is
granted to Chidambaram in this case. “I am not inclined to grant
bail,” Justice Kait said.

While
pronouncing the verdict, he said the material collected by the ED in the money
laundering case is clear, different and independent with that collected by the
CBI in the corruption case.

Even the
investigation done in this case is different from the CBI’s case, the court
said, adding that in cases of economic offences, the entire community gets
affected.

I am
conscious that bail is rule and jail is exception but a wrong message would be
sent to the society, if bail is granted in this case,” the judge said.

The high
court had reserved the order on November 8 on the bail petition after hearing
the arguments of counsel for Chidambaram and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The ED had
arrested him in the money laundering case on October 16 and presently he in
judicial custody till November 27 under the order of a trial court.

Chidambaram
was arrested by the CBI on August 21 in the INX Media corruption case and was
granted bail by the Supreme Court on October 22.