Delhi HC grants bail to Karti Chidambaram in INX media case

The Delhi High Court on Friday granted bail to Karti Chidambaram, the son of former Finance Minister P Chidambaram, in connection with the INX Media case.The court granted the bail against a surety of Rs 10 lakh.

The order was delivered by Justice S P Garg who had reserved his verdict on March 16 after hearing arguments on behalf of Karti and the CBI which had opposed grant of the relief to him.

Karti Chidambaram is not allowed travel outside India and cannot influence witnesses or close bank accounts, the court said.

Meanwhile, Officials of the Central Bureau of Investigation, which is handling the case, have said that they challenge the court's decision in the Supreme Court.

The agency had contended that he should not be granted bail as he has already destroyed evidence in the case and was an "influential" person.

Karti's counsel had argued that no case under the Prevention of Corruption Act was made out against him since the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had neither questioned any public servant, nor made them an accused in the matter.

Karti's lawyers had denied allegations of tampering with evidence and added that when the CBI had not sought his further custodial interrogation, why should he be kept in judicial custody.

They had also said that no one else has been arrested in the case and what the CBI has done is to put Karti behind bars.

On March 15, the Supreme Court gave interim protection to Karti from arrest in connection with the case. He now cannot be arrested until March 26 by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Karti is being investigated by the CBI and ED for his alleged role in the INX Media case.

Karti was arrested from Chennai on February 28 by the CBI on his return from the United Kingdom in connection with an FIR lodged on May 15 last year, alleging irregularities in a Foreign Investment Promotion Board clearance given to INX Media for receiving funds of about Rs 305 crore from overseas in 2007 when his father was the Union finance minister.

The CBI had initially alleged that Karti received Rs 10 lakh as a bribe for facilitating the FIPB clearance to INX Media. It had later revised the figure to USD 1 million (about Rs 6.50 crore at the current exchange rate and Rs 4.5 crore in 2007).The fresh evidence in the case, which triggered Karti's arrest, was based on a statement of Indrani Mukerjea, former director of INX Media (P) Ltd, who recorded it under Section 164 of the CrPC before a magistrate on February 17. Indrani is currently lodged in a Mumbai prison in connection with the case of murder of her daughter Sheena Bora.

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