The Supreme Court has refused Karti Chidambaram protection from possible arrest by the Enforcement Directorate. But the court did agree to hear his petition against the ED’s charges.
The court will hold the next hearing on March 8th. The bench consisting of Dipak Misra, AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud is seeking a response from the ED regarding Chidambaram’s please seeking protection from arrest. Chidambaram’s counsel Kapil Sibal pleaded in court for his client’s interim protection because there is a possibility of him being arrested as his CBI custody has ended. The national investigation, on the other hand, has asked for the custody to be extended for another 8 days.
Karti also said, “We are willing to cooperate in every way and we also did so. I am worried about my arrest.“
The investigation against the suspicious approvals with regard to INX Media is still not complete. He was taken into custody for the same five days ago. He also alleged the CBI and the ED were questioning him about issues that weren’t discussed in the FIR filed by CBI last year. The CBI said that Karti was required for purposes of completing the investigation and that he was needed to confront the accused and co-accused to uncover the larger picture. The investigation it was revealed had answered some questions despite Karti being evasive during the questioning.
Abhishek Manu Singhvi said the authorities wanted to keep Karti in custody by hook or crook. As the hearings proceed now that Indrani Mukerjea has also been connected to the case, it keeps getting murkier and murkier. She too alleged that a deal amounting 1 million USD was struck between Karti Chidambaram and the Mukerjeas to obtain the FIPB approval for INX Media. Karti’s situation worsens with every accusation no matter how hard his counsels will try.