“Mr P Chidambaram’s 106-day incarceration was vengeful and vindictive,” said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after SC granted bail to Chidambaram.
India Tomorrow
NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 4— The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted bail to senior Congress leader and former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram in a case registered by the Enforcement Directorate in the INX Media scam. He was granted bail after 106 days in jail. After hours of paper works, he finally came out of Tihar jail around 8 PM. A big crowd of Congress workers welcomed him outside the jail.
A bench headed by Justice R. Banumathi said that the Congress leader will not make any public statements regarding the INX Media case, and also make no attempt to intimidate the witnesses in the case.
The apex court has also imposed conditions on the bail — Chidambaram’s passport will remain confiscated, and he will not be allowed to leave the country without permission, he will give no interviews to the press, and he will also make himself available for interrogation in the matter.
The court directed Chidambaram to deposit bail bonds of Rs 2 lakh with two sureties subject to satisfaction of the special judge hearing the case. The top court observed that the bail order will not have any effect on action against other accused in the case.
The apex court also ordered the Registry to return the sealed covers submitted to the bench by the ED on the last day of the hearing, containing evidence connected to the case.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal appearing for Chidambaram asked the court for certified copy of the order to produce before the special judge conducting the trial of the INX Media case on Wednesday.
The apex court observing the gravity of the economic offences said that bail is the rule and jail the exception, and Chidambaram has already spent many days in custody of the ED.
After Chidambaram was granted the bail on Wednesday after 106 days in jail, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted: “Mr P Chidambaram’s 106 day incarceration was vengeful and vindictive. I’m glad that the SC has granted him bail. I’m confident that he will be able to prove his innocence in a fair trial.”
Chidambaram’s MP son Karti P Chidambaram also commented: “I am very happy that he is going to be back home, I am relieved. He will also be attending Parliament session tomorrow.”
Citing the bail conditions that prevent him from commenting on the INX media case, P. Chidambaram told the media outside the jail: “I cannot comment on the case. I am going to obey the Supreme Court’s order and I will not comment on the case.”
However, he charged the BJP-led central government for unjustly persecuting him. “The fact is, after 106 days of pre-trial incarceration, there is not a single charge that has been framed against me,” said Chidambaram.
-With Inputs From IANS
