INX media case: P Chidambaram moves regular bail plea in Delhi High Court

[dropcap]F[/dropcap]ORMER Union minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, arrested in the INX Media corruption case, on Wednesday approached the Delhi High Court seeking regular bail.

He was sent to judicial custody in Tihar Jail last week.

Contesting that his judicial remand was contrary to the settled principles of law, Chidambram has also challenged an order of the Special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Court at Rouse Avenue Court Complex that sent him to judicial custody till September 19. Special CBI Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar had remanded him to judicial custody on September 5 after the expiry of the maximum time period for police custody of an accused.

Alleging that the CBI is acting at behest of the Central Government to malign his "untainted and unimpeachable reputation", he said in his plea that mere apprehensions and presumptions of the investigating agency could not have resulted in his judicial remand.

The probe agencies had previously maintained that the investigation would be hampered because of former Union Minister's status and position.

He alleged that the criminal case against him is borne out of a political vendetta and is mala fide.

Chidambaram was arrested by the CBI on August 21, a day after the Delhi High Court denied him anticipatory bail.

Chidambaram, meanwhile, asked his family to post a message on his behalf on Twitter. "I have asked my family to tweet on my behalf the following: Thank you all for your support. I must say I am amazed by the capacity of the poor (who I have had the chance to meet and interact with over the last few days) to distinguish between justice and injustice," he tweeted.

"I am deeply concerned about the economy. The poor are the worst affected. Lower, fewer jobs, less trade and lower investment affect the poor and the middle class. Where is the plan to get the country out of this decline and gloom," Chidambram asked on his Twitter account.