'Worried about economy': Ex-FM after 14-day Tihar jail sentence
The former minister's efforts to stay out of jail failed miserably after the judge refused his offer of surrendering to ED.
New Delhi: Senior congress leader and former Union Minister P Chidambaram, before leaving for Tihar jail this evening, took a last hit at the government. "I'm only worried about the economy," he said, continuing his dig at the government earlier this week with the "5 per cent" remark.
Today's comment came minutes after Special judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar declared the former minister will have to go to Tihar jail till September 19 in the INX Media case, reported NDTV. Amid the confusion over which agency will transport him, Chidambaram had a quick aside with reporters.
On Tuesday, after Chidambaram's custody with the Central Bureau of Investigation was extended, asked if he wanted to say anything, the former minister said "5 per cent", holding up his hand to convey the number.
It was a dig at the government on the economic slowdown, the figure indicating a GDP crash was made public days before.
The Congress, which has also been attacking the government on the economy, tweeted: "Those with the power of truth have the strength to fight any injustice".
The former minister's efforts to stay out of jail failed miserably today. The judge even turned down his offer to surrender before the Enforcement Directorate and sentenced him to 14 days judicial remand at Tihar Jail.
The CBI has accused Chidambaram of facilitating a huge infusion of foreign funds into the television company INX Media in 2007, when he was Finance Minister, at the behest of his son Karti Chidambaram, who allegedly received kickbacks for his role.
The Chidambarams were named in the case by INX Media co-founders Peter and Indrani Mukerjea, who are in jail in Mumbai for the murder of Indrani's daughter Sheena Bora. Indrani Mukerjea, who turned approver in the case, had told the investigators about her meeting with the Chidambarams.