Saradha Chit Fund Case : Supreme Court Disposes Of Nalini Chidambaram's Plea Against ED Summons Noting She Has Been Named As Accused

The Supreme Court today disposed of as infructuous a plea filed by Senior Advocate Nalini Chidambaram (wife of ex-Finance Minister P Chidambaram) against ED summons requiring her to appear outside her ordinary place of residence. It may be recalled that she has been roped in by agencies in relation to the Saradha chit fund scam case.

A bench of Justices Bela M Trivedi and Satish Chandra Sharma passed the order, on being informed by Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal (appearing for Chidambaram) that prosecution complaint has been filed in the case and Chidambaram has been named as an accused therein.

"The matter has become infructuous. The complaint has been filed...she has been named as accused...Now there is no question of summoning her (as a witness)", said Sibal.

Additional Solicitor General SV Raju (for ED) did not dispute the submission made by Sibal. As such, the bench recorded the statements of the counsels and disposed of the matter as infructuous.

On the last date of hearing, Sibal submitted before the court that Chidambaram underwent a knee surgery which made it impossible for her to undertake air travel to Calcutta in response to the summons.

In response, ASG Raju made a statement on behalf of ED that Chidambaram will not be summoned to Calcutta till the next date. Thereafter, the prosecution complaint was filed in the PMLA case and the matter became infructuous.

Case Title: Nalini Chidambaram v. The Directorate of Enforcement and Ors., C.A. No. 5160-5161/2023