Justice Sunil Gaur, Who Denied Bail To Chidambaram, Tipped To Head PMLA Appellate Tribunal

Government  is likely to appoint Justice Sunil Gaur, who had rejected the bail plea of former finance minister P Chidambaram in the INX Media case, as chairman of the PMLA Appellate Tribunal, reports PTI

Notably, three days before retirement, Justice Gaur had denied anticipatory bail to former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram by terming him the "kingpin and key conspirator" of the INX Media scam case.

The order passed by Justice Gaur is presently under challenge in the Supreme Court, with Chidambaram's lawyers Senior Advocates Kapil Sibal and A M Singhvi arguing that the judgment "copy pasted" allegations contained in a sealed cover note submitted by the ED to deny bail.

Justice Gaur started his legal practice at the Punjab and Haryana High Court in 1984. He joined the Delhi Higher Judicial Service in 1995 and was elevated to the high court in April 2008. 

Last December, Justice Gaur ordered the eviction of Associated Journals Ltd (AJL) - publisher of Congress mouthpiece 'National Herald' -from its premises in Delhi. This order, which was approved by the Division Bench, was stayed by the SC in AJL's appeal.

In April, Justice Gaur set aside the conviction of three officials of Reliance Industries Limited under Official Secrets Act for possessing secret documents pertaining to cabinet meetings on economic matters.

Former Delhi HC judge Justice Manmohan Singh, the present Chairperson of the Tribunal, is set to retire on September 21. The Tribunal hears challenges against confiscation orders passed by the Enforcement Directorate under the PMLA.