INX Media case: PC moves SC for early hearing of plea

New Delhi: The senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram on Wednesday will seek an urgent hearing by the Supreme Court of his appeal against Delhi high court order rejecting his plea for an anticipatory bail in an alleged corruption case involving money laundering relating to INX Media scam.

Mr Chidambaram was heading the finance ministry in UPA government when INX Media was given FIPB clearance.

The top court registry asked Mr Chidambaram to mention his plea against the high court order at 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday.

Senior counsel Kapil Sibal, who had approa-ched the registrar (judicial) for an early hearing of Mr Chidambaram’s appeal, said that since Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi is sitting in the five-judge constitution bench hearing Ayodhya title suitcase, the mentioning would be made before the senior-most judge.

Since the second senior-most judge after CJI Gogoi, Justice S.A. Bobde too is a part of the constitution bench, the mentioning for an early hearing is likely to be made before the court number three presided over by Justice N.V. Ramana.

In a jolt to the former finance minister Chidambaram, Delhi high court on Tuesday rejected his plea for an anticipatory bail in INX Media scam. Justice Sunil Gaur of Delhi high court, who had reserved ruling back on January 25, 2019, also turned down Mr Chidambaram’s plea for three days’ protection from arrest to move the Supreme Court.

Mr Chidambaram with his legal team was seen in the top court soon after the order rejecting his plea for anticipatory bail was pronounced by Justice Gaur of Delhi high court.

As they were putting their acts together, senior counsel Kapil Sibal, Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Salman Khurshid reached the top court and were engaged in a frantic activity for an early hearing of Mr Chidambram’s plea but by the time they could have put their acts together it was already past 4.00 p.m. and the court had arisen for the day.

Senior lawyer Dayan Krishnan who appeared for Mr Chidambaram in the high court too was present.

After meeting the registrar (judicial), Mr Chidambaram, Mr Sibal, Mr Singhvi, Mr Krishnan were closeted in the conference room (where senior lawyers hold consultations relating to their cases) when word came that they can make mentioning at 10.30 a.m. on Wednesday.