Breaking: CBI Arrests Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram In INX Media Case

Former Finance Minister and a prime suspect in the INX Media Scam, P. Chidambaram has been arrested by the CBI after he held an unannounced press conference today at the Indian National Congress Office.

He was arrested by the central agency from his residence at Jor Bagh, Delhi and was taken to the CBI Head Quarters.

Chidambaram, who is presently a member of the Rajya Sabha, has been accused of committing offences under Prevention of Corruption Act and Prevention of Money Laundering Act in respect of INX Media investments.

Ever since the Delhi High Court had rejected his application for pre-arrest bail on August 20, the CBI had been attempting to execute the arrest warrant issued against him, while his lawyers sought urgent listing of the matter before the Supreme Court. CBI had reported that the MP had been evading arrest and a look out notice was issued against him.

In the press conference, he denied all the allegations leveled against him or his family and said that he had not been accused of any offence in the FIR. "No chargesheet was filed by the CBI or ED before the competent court and the FIR filed by CBI does not impute to me any offences" he said.

He added that his personal liberty was under constant threat from the "pathological liars" and if given a choice between life and liberty, he would choose liberty.

He said that the Delhi High Court had granted him interim protection last year by orders dated May 31, 2018 and subsequently, July 25, 2018. On January 25, 2019, the judgment was reserved. However, 7 months later, the high court dismissed his bail application. His lawyers appealed repeatedly before the SC to list his matter urgently and grant him interim protection in the meanwhile, but in vain.

He said, "I was accused of running away from justice but rather, I was seeking justice".

He explained 27 hours of his absence saying that he had been working through all the documents last night, with his lawyers and it was only in the morning that the process was completed.

Lastly, he said that the Supreme Court had listed the hearing of his matter for Friday and as a person who had utmost respect for the law, he was ready to wait until then. "In the name of freedom, I can only hope and pray that the investigating agencies will also respect the law", he said.

After the conference, he went to his residence in Delhi from where the CBI arrested him.

In the Supreme Court on Wednesday, two rounds of mentioning were made by Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal before Justice Ramana - one in the morning and another at 2 PM - for urgent hearing of the petition.

Though Sibal submitted that CBI had issued look out notice for Chidambaram and could arrest him anytime, Justice Ramana maintained that out of turn hearing cannot be given to the petition unless it is listed as per proper procedure.

Since CJI Ranjan Gogoi and the second senior judge Justice Bobde were in the Constitution Bench hearing the Ayodhya matter, the mentioning was made before Justice Ramana, the next available senior judge.

Justice Ramana said that only the CJI could pass orders regarding listing of the case and forwarded the file to the office of CJI.

The Delhi High Court dismissed his application for anticipatory bail on Tuesday after observing that it was a "classic case of money laundering". Chidambaram was termed the "kingpin and key conspirator" of the alleged corruption deal.