Special CBI Court Extends CBI Custody Of P Chidambaram Till September 2

CBI Special Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar at the Rouse Avenue, Delhi on Friday extended the CBI custody of former Union Home and Finance Minister P Chidambaram in the INX media  till September 2.

The extension of three days was given taking note of the fact that the Supreme Court is set to consider the SLP filed against the August 22 remand order on Monday.

ASG K N Natraj, appearing for the CBI, sought additional custody of five more days. 

In response, the judge stated that the grounds mentioned in the custody application were vague.

Why 15 days custody was not sought in one go itself, asked the Judge. On first day of production, the CBI had sought 5 days custody. The Court granted 4 days custody on August 23. This was further extended by four more days on August 26 against a request for extension of 5 days custody by CBI.

The ASG replied that it was not possible to ascertain how much time interrogation would require.

Senior Advocate Dayan Krishnan, appearing for Chidambaram, submitted that though he was opposing the extension of custody on merits, he had no objection to extending the custody till the SC considers the SLP against August 22 order on Monday.

"We have a number of objections on the merits of the custody applications. But, we are voluntarily willing to stay in PC till Monday since SC is taking up the matter then", the Senior Advocate said.

Chidambaram was arrested by CBI from his Jor Bagh residence on August 21 night in the case registered by the CBI for alleged corruption in the clearance given to FDI by INX Media in May 2007 when he was the Union Finance Minister.

The kickbacks for sanctioning the Rs.305 crores investment was routed through the companies associated with Chidambaram's son Karti ,alleged the CBI.

On August 22, the CBI judge remanded Chidambaram to four days custody after observing that the allegations were "serious in nature" and a "detailed and in depth investigation is required in the case".

The SC bench of Justices Banumathi and Bopanna has reserved orders on Chidambaram's plea for pre-arrest bail in the case registered by Enforcement Directorate on money laundering allegations.