to Spend Night at CBI Headquarters
AGENCIES / NEW DELHI
Senior Congress leader and former Union finance minister P Chidambaram was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday night amid high drama at his posh Jor Bagh residence here where a few officers even scaled walls to gain entry.
The arrest took place hours after Chidambaram failed to get any immediate reprieve in the INX media case from the Supreme Court.
“Mr P Chidambaram has been arrested in connection with INX media case,” a senior official of the agency confirmed.
A CBI spokesperson said Chidambaram has been arrested on the basis of a warrant issued by a competent court. After his arrest at his residence, the former minister was taken to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital where a medical examination was done, sources said.
Chidambaram has been kept in No. 5 suite of the CBI Guest House on the ground floor of the agency headquarters, they added. He will be produced before a special CBI court on Thursday, where the agency will seek his remand.
The Investigating Agency had been seeking Mr. Chidambaram’s custodial interrogation in the case pertaining to alleged irregularities in the grant of foreign investment clearances to INX media when he was the Finance Minister during UPA rule.
Earlier, Enforcement Directorate had also issued a lookout notice against P Chidambaram. The teams of CBI and the ED are on the lookout for him, who continues to remain untraceable so far.
Senior Congress leader and former Finance Minister who is facing an imminent arrest in connection with INX Media case today appeared at the Congress Headquarters along with his party colleagues and addressed the media.
Mr Chidambaram told media that he has not been accused of any offence nor anyone else of his family member in the case. He said, there is no charge sheet filed by either ED or CBI before a competent court in this regard.
Shortly after failing to get interim relief earlier on Wednesday, the congress leader made a dramatic appearance at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) headquarters here and addressed a news conference professing his innocence.
“I am aghast that I was accused of hiding from the law,” Chidambaram said, rejecting allegations that he was evading investigating agencies. He added that he had been working with his lawyers throughout Tuesday, preparing his papers or his bail application.
Sleuths rushed to the party office, but by the time they reached, Chidambaram had already left for his residence 115-A in Jor Bagh, a 10-minute distance from the Congress office, in a luxury sedan accompanied with his lawyers and party colleagues — Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Kapil Sibal.
Afterwards, officials from the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate arrived at Chidambaram’s house. Dramatic scenes unfolded when a few CBI officials scaled the five-foot-high wall of the bungalow in order to gain entry. Another team attempted entry from the backdoor.
Once three officers reached inside, they opened the gates to allow entry to other team members waiting outside. Soon a team of officers, identifying themselves as from the ED, also arrived. A team of about two dozen officials remained on guard at the bungalow when Chidambaram was inside with Sibal and Singhvi.
Soon afterwards, crowds collected outside the bungalow, forcing the police to step in and cordon off the area. Delhi Police personnel were also posted to prevent any adverse law and order situation.
At 9.45 pm, Chidambaram was finally arrested, putting an end to more than 30 hours of speculation on what would follow next. The Congress leader was taken to the headquarters of the probe agency nearby for questioning, where he will remain overnight. He is set to be produced in a CBI court tomorrow.