INX Media Case: SC Extends Chidambaram's CBI Custody Till Sep 5

[Update at 3:50 PM - The CBI Court, Rouse Avenue, extended the CBI custody of P Chidambaram till September 5, taking note of the Supreme Court's order]

With a view to avoid being sent to Tihar jail under judicial custody, Chidambaram's lawyers on Tuesday sought from the Supreme Court the extension of his CBI custody till September 5, the day on which his 15 day police custody period will expire.

The Solicitor General on the other hand submitted that the CBI does not require Chidambaram's custody any longer, possibly hinting that he should be sent to judicial custody.

The Supreme Court, which expressed disinclination to hear the matter today, directed to maintain status quo with regard to the CBI custody of former Union Finance Minister in the INX Media case till September 5.

The bench of Justices R Banumathi and Bopanna also recorded the undertaking of Chidambaram's lawyers that he will not press for interim bail till the next posting date.

The order was passed by the bench in the petition filed by Chidambaram challenging the August 22 remand order passed by CBI Court, Rouse Avenue, Delhi.

Yesterday also the bench had passed a similar order, after posting the case to September 5. The posting was later advanced to today after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had made a special mention at 3 PM, submitting that the 15 days police remand was ending today. (The first order was passed after hearing Additional Solicitor General K N Nataraj).

Today the Solicitor General clarified that 15 days remand period was ending on September 5 and not today. He contended that the special leave petition was not maintainable.

Solicitor General added that the CBI does not want Chidambaram's custody any longer, and pleaded to "allow law to take its own course".

Senior Advocates Kapil Sibal and Dr AM Singhvi, appearing for Chidambaram, requested for maintaining the status quo till September 5 and undertook not to press for interim bail till.

Yesterday, the CBI court had extended his custody till today.

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.