New Delhi: P Chidambaram will walk out of jail on Wednesday after almost three months, with the Supreme Court granting him bail in the INX Media money laundering case. The former Union Minister has spent 105 days in prison, mostly in Delhi’s Tihar Jail. Chidambaram cannot travel without permission and has to present himself for questioning whenever required, the court said. The senior Congress leader also cannot make any public statements on the case, give interviews or contact witnesses.
Among the first to react was Chidambaram’s son, who is also an accused in the case. “Phew, at last after 106 days,” tweeted Karti Chidambaram, with a smiley. The BJP’s Sambit Patra jibed that Chidambaram had joined the “OOBC (Out On Bail Club)” of the Congress.
The Congress tweeted: “Truth finally prevails. #SatyamevaJayate.” Senior Congress leaders including Sonia Gandhi had visited Chidambaram in jail in a show of support. Last month, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi also visited him.
Chidambaram had challenged the Delhi High Court’s decision denying him bail. The Supreme Court on Wednesday criticised the High Court for making observations on the merits of the case and noted that the “triple test” was found in the politician’s favour – that he was not absconding, not tampering with evidence and cooperating with investigators.
Chidambaram was arrested on August 21 by the CBI, which is investigating allegations that as Finance Minister of the country in 2007, Chidambaram facilitated a huge infusion of foreign funds into the company INX Media founded by Peter and Indrani Mukerjea.
The Enforcement Directorate arrested him on October 16 in connection with money-laundering allegations linked to the case. Chidambaram is accused of creating a web of shell companies and several foreign bank accounts to launder money.
At Tihar Jail, Chidambaram was given a separate cell, a western toilet, home-cooked food and medicines, following a Delhi High Court order. He had requested bail to fly to Hyderabad for the treatment of a stomach ailment.
