Chidambaram's Bail Plea : Delhi High Court Asks CBI To File Status Report In INX Media Case

The Delhi High Court on Thursday asked the CBI to file a status report in 7 days replying to the application moved by P Chidambaram for regular bail in INX Media case.

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, counsel for P Chidambaram, submitted that the impugned events in the case pertained to 2007-2008, the FIR was lodged in 2017, and the accused was interrogated only once before his arrest. Moreover, the offences he has been charged with carry imprisonment for a term less than 7 years, which doesn't make them serious offences as per law laid down by the Supreme Court in Arnesh Kumar case.

Justice Kait inquired about the reasons for not moving the bail application immediately. Moreover, he questioned the rationale of moving an application under section 482 for challenging the remand order as the accused has already spent some days in judicial custody.

Therefore, Mr Sibal withdrew the application under section 482 and asked for daily family visits and home cooked food to be allowed to Mr Chidambaram. 'He's 72 and has medical complications', he argued.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta countered the demand for home-cooked food by saying that state cannot discrimination amongst prisoners. Justice Kait, while allowing the demand for family visits, refused to entertain the plea for home cooked food.

The next day of hearing is September 23.  

Chidambaram was remanded to judicial custody till September 19 by CBI Court on September 5, after 15 days of police custody.