Observing that there is no specific allegation except that he aided Karti Chidambaram in the commission of crime, a Delhi court on Tuesday granted bail to Mr. Chidambaram’s chartered accountant S. Bhaskararaman in the money laundering case connected with the INX Media corruption case.
Special Judge Sunil Rana ordered his release on bail on furnishing a bond of ₹ 2 lakh with one surety of a like amount.
The Enforcement Directorate had arrested him on February 16 after it lodged a money laundering case on the basis of an FIR filed by the CBI in the corruption case.
Mr. Chidambaram is one of the accused in the CBI case, and at present he is in judicial custody.
“There is no specific allegation against the applicant [Mr. Bhaskararaman] except that he aided and assisted the main accused Mr. Karti Chidambaram in commission of crime. The correctness or otherwise of the allegation as to whether the accused had possessed proceeds of crime or in what manner the accused was connected with the same can only be looked into during the course of the trial,” Mr. Rana said, granting bail.
Can’t leave country
The court directed the accused not to leave the country without its permission and not to threaten any person acquainted with the facts of the case during the bail period.
The accused had sought bail submitting that no purpose would be served by keeping him in judicial custody because he was no more required for custodial interrogation.
“Considering the facts and circumstances of the case... I am of the view that there is no hint or allegation that the applicant S. Bhaskararaman is at a flight risk, nor is there any material to suggest that he will tamper with evidence. Therefore, he is no more required to be kept in judicial custody,” the judge said in his order.
The ED had alleged that the accused had assisted Mr. Chidambaram to manage his alleged ill-gotten wealth in India and abroad.
