AGENCIES / NEW DELHI
The Supreme Court today reserved the verdict on former finance minister P Chidambaram’s plea against Delhi High Court order denying him bail in the INX Media corruption case.
The Central Bureau of Investigation, told the Supreme Court today, that 15 accused, including Chidambaram, his son Karti and some companies have been charge-sheeted in the case.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for CBI told the bench headed by Justice R Banumathi, opposing Chidambaram’s bail plea, that the country needs to go for a zero-tolerance policy on corruption. The Solicitor General informed the court that the offence of forgery has also been made out in the probe in the case against Chidambaram. He said that further probe on in the case and responses on Letters Rogatory (LRs) sent to Singapore and Mauritius are awaited.
The Solicitor General stated that the presence of Chidambaram was enough to intimidate witnesses and so he should not be given bail at least till material witnesses are examined.
Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Chidambaram, countered Mehta’s submissions. He said the CBI’s apprehensions that Chidambaram may tamper with the evidence or influence the witnesses were false and baseless.