INX Media Case: CBI Court dismisses P Chidambaram plea to surrender in ED case

The Special CBI Court at Rouse Avenue Court Complex today dismissed the surrender application filed by P Chidambaram in connection with Enforcement Directorate (ED) case filed against him in the INX Media case. P Chidambaram will remain in Tihar Jail till September 19.The order was pronounced by Special CBI Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar..Yesterday, the ED had told the CBI Court that it did not want custodial interrogation of Chidambaram for now..ED had stated that it would approach the Court as and when the same was required..The Investigating Agency had prayed for the dismissal of the surrender application on the ground that an accused could not guide the mode and manner of investigation or dictate when he could be arrested..It was further stated that till the time Chidamabaram remained in judicial custody, there was no threat of tampering with evidence of influencing the witness and the Agency would utilize this time to gather more material in the case..P Chidambaram had argued that ED’s argument was an afterthought as they wanted to arrest him on August 20..It was alleged that ED only wanted to prolong his incarceration in Tihar Jail..It was contended that the accused always has a right to surrender before the Court..Chidambaram was arrested by the CBI in connection with the INX Media case on August 21, a day after the Delhi High Court denied his anticipatory bail plea. Both the CBI and the ED had sought his arrest in the case..He was thereafter sent to custody on August 22 in the case filed by the CBI. The Court went on to extend the CBI’s custody of P Chidambaram till August 30, and then later till September 5..On September 5, the Court sent Chidambaram to judicial custody till September 19. On the same day, the Supreme Court rejected Chidambaram’s plea seeking anticipatory bail in the ED case..Read the order:.Bar & Bench is available on WhatsApp. For real-time updates on stories, Click here to subscribe to our WhatsApp.