INX Media Case : SC Dismisses CBI's Review Petition Against Bail Granted To P Chidambaram

The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed the review petition filed by Central Bureau of Investigation against the order granting bail to former Union Minister P Chidambaram.

"We have perused the review petition and the connected papers carefully and are convinced that the order of which the review has been sought does not suffer from any error apparent warranting reconsideration", said a bench comprising Justices R Banumathi ,A S Bopanna and Hrishikesh Roy.

It was on October 22 last year that the Supreme Court granted him bail in the case registered by CBI for alleged offences under Prevention of Corruption Act in relation to INX Media transaction.

However, he could not secure release then as he was under custody in a case registered by the Enforcement Directorate for alleged offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

It was only on December 4 that the SC granted him bail in the case registered by ED, paving way for his release after 104 days of custody

Chidambaram was arrested by the CBI on August 21 last year in the corruption case which was registered on May 15, 2017 alleging irregularities in a Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance granted to the INX Media group for receiving overseas funds of Rs 305 crore in 2007, during Chidambaram's tenure as finance minister..

Both the CBI and Enforcement Directorate have registered separate cases against him in relation to the INX deal; the former for offences under Prevention of Corruption Act and the latter under Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

After spending 58 days in custody - 15 days CBI custody and 53 days judicial custody - the SC had granted him bail on October 23 in the case registered by CBI. The SC bench headed by Justice R Banumathi rejected the argument of CBI that Chidambaram posed a flight risk and that he could influence witnesses.

However, he could not get release from Tihar jail even after the SC relief as he was taken into custody by the ED on October 17.

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