New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday (April 28) opposed before the Delhi High Court the plea of former Union minister P Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram to defer framing of charges in the INX media case.
The central agency, while opposing Chidambarams’ plea to defer the proceedings before the trial court, said that a further probe into the case cannot bar the trial court from hearing arguments and framing charges against the Congress leaders.
What did CBI argue before the High Court?
The CBI counsel told Justice Ravinder Dudeja charges have not been framed yet and the further investigation can carry on.
“Charges are not yet framed. Further investigation can carry on. How is this petition maintainable when they (Chidambarams) themselves say further investigation can go on?,” the CBI counsel argued and added, “Law is against them. Law says, of course (argument on) charges can be heard, charges can be framed,” news agency PTI reported.
What did the counsel for accused argue before High Court?
Senior advocate Sidharth Luthra, who appeared for the accused, argued that the trial court ought not hear arguments and frame charges in the matter the interest of a fair trial till the time the probe of CBI was pending. He further said that certain documents were withheld from the accused persons by the investigating agency on the ground that investigation was still underway and the case of the CBI would fall apart if other exculpatory evidence was recovered after framing of charges.
“We are eight years away from when they began investigation and there is no end in sight,” Luthra said.
There was sufficient material to show ‘demand of bribe’ CBI earlier told High Court
The CBI earlier told the High Court that there was sufficient material in the case to show “demand of bribe” and framing of charges in the case should not be stopped on account of any pending investigation.
Chidambarams have said in their pleas before the High Court that the CBI chargesheet in the case was incomplete and the accused persons were yet to be given access to all the material collected by the CBI as probe on certain aspects was going on.
What has the CBI alleged?
The CBI, which had registered a case on May 15, 2017, has alleged irregularities in a Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance granted to the INX Media group for receiving overseas funds of Rs 305 crore in 2007 during the tenure of P Chidambaram as the finance minister.
The CBI arrested P Chidambaram in the INX Media corruption case on August 21, 2019 and he was also arrested by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a related money laundering case on October 16, 2019. The Supreme Court granted him bail in the corruption case on October 22, 2019 and he was granted bail in the ED case on December 4, 2019. The CBI arrested Karti Chidambaram in the corruption case in February 2018 and he was granted bail in March 2018.
