Chidambaram's CBI custody extended till Aug 30

A Delhi Court yesterday sent Congress leader and former finance minister P Chidambaram to CBI custody till August 30. Mr Chidambaram will be subjected to further custodial interrogation for four days by the CBI in the INX Media scam.

Special Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar accepted the CBI demand that Chidambaram's custodial interrogation was required. He was produced in the court on expiry of his four-day CBI custody which was granted to the agency on August 22.

The CBI sought an extension of Chidambaram's custody by five days to confront him with certain e-mails and to unearth larger conspiracy. He was produced in the trial court, hours after the Supreme Court refused to entertain his plea challenging the Delhi High Court order which had dismissed his anticipatory bail plea in



the corruption case lodged by the CBI.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta representing the CBI said an investigation of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is going on simultaneously. He said the ED has filed an affidavit before the Supreme Court in the money laundering case against Chidambaram and has shared evidence with the CBI regarding which further interrogation is required.

The CBI had registered an FIR on May 15, 2017, alleging irregularities in the 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 the finance minister. Thereafter, the Enforcement Directorate lodged a money laundering case in this regard in 2017.