The Supreme Court on Tuesday sought response from Enforcement Directorate on former Union minister P Chidambaram's son Karti's fresh plea seeking protection from arrest in the INX Media case. The matter is now listed for March 8.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) told the top court that it will seek extension of Karti's custody before trial court.
Karti Chidambaram, who was arrested by the CBI at Chennai airport soon after his arrival from an overseas visit on February 28, is currently in the custody of the CBI that is investigating allegation of his taking money for FIPB clearance to INX Media.
In his fresh writ petition, Karti has challenged the summons on the ground that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has no jurisdiction to issue such notices based on the FIR lodged by the CBI.
The apex court had on February 23 refused to stay the summons issued by the ED against Karti after the CBI said he was "not a common criminal" and his plea for quashing the notice was "a guise for an anticipatory bail plea".
However, the top court had asked Karti to request the competent authority to postpone the ED summons seeking his appearance.
Indrani Mukerjea spilled the beans on the deal involving Karti Chidambaram while recording her statement before a magistrate in New Delhi on February 17, including that he had allegedly taken bribes from her.
The bench had listed the matter for hearing on March 6 after senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who had appeared for Karti, sought time to file a proper application to challenge the ED proceedings.
The ED had registered a case against him and others in May last year. It registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), the ED's equivalent of a police FIR, against the accused named in a CBI complaint. These included Karti Chidambaram, INX Media and its directors, Peter and Indrani Mukerjea.
An FIR, filed on May 15 last year, had alleged irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance to INX Media for receiving Rs 305 crore in overseas funds in 2007 when P Chidambaram was Union finance minister.
The apex court was hearing pleas, including the CBI's appeal, challenging the Madras High Court order staying a lookout circular (LOC) issued against Karti Chidambaram.
The CBI had on September 1 last year said there were "good, cogent" reasons for issuing the LOC.
The Chidambarams have denied all the charges made against them.
Earlier, a single judge bench of the Madras High Court had stayed the LOC issued against Karti Chidambaram and others in the graft case.
Later, the apex court considered the CBI appeal and stayed the operation of the high court order staying the LOC.
The Supreme Court, however, has kept to itself another batch of petitions relating to registration of FIR in the corruption case.
- With agency inputs
