INX Media case: Delhi High Court issues notice to CBI over Chidambram’s bail plea

[dropcap]D[/dropcap]ELHI High Court has issued a notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on the bail application filed by former Finance Minister P Chidambaram in INX Media case.

A single judge bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait directed the CBI to file its status report within a week and listed the matter for hearing on September 23.

Chidambaram in his plea had sought regular bail besides a direction to quash the trial court's order sending him to Tihar jail where he is in judicial custody.

A group of lawyers including Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Salman Khurshid, Vivek Tankha, Dayan Krishnan and N Hariharan led by Kapil Sibal told the court that the alleged offences pertained to 2007-2008 and an FIR was registered 10 years later in May 2017.

They said that Chidambaram was called for interrogation by the CBI only once in June 2018 and arrested one year later on August 21.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said Chidambaram's anticipatory bail plea was rejected by the High Court with the observation that "its a very strong case."

The court didn't consider senior advocate Kapil Sibal's request for allowing daily family visits and home food for Chidambaram in Tihar jail.