CBI moves SC against bail granted to Karti

The CBI on Monday approached the Supreme Court challenging a Delhi High Court order granting bail to Karti Chidambaram, son of senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, in the INX Media case. A single judge Bench of the Delhi HC had on March 23 granted bail to Karti, who was arrested on February 28 by the CBI in connection with the case. The HC was of the view that relief cannot be refused unless the crime was of the “highest magnitude” entailing “severe punishment”.

The CBI claimed in its appeal that it was “impermissible in law” for the HC to entertain Karti’s bail plea when an application seeking a similar relief was pending before the trial court. It further alleged that the HC “erroneously” conducted a “detailed examination” of evidence on merits at the stage of bail which has seriously prejudiced the case of CBI.

The agency stated that the judge failed to ascertain the nature of accusation, the supporting evidence and the reasonable apprehension of the accused tampering with the evidence if let out on bail.

It is the case of CBI that there is “incriminating evidence” of a “nexus” between Chess Management Services (P) Ltd and Advantage Strategic Consulting (P) Ltd, both controlled by Karti, which received a payment of Rs 10 lakh for allegedly facilitating the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance to INX Media. Karti was arrested from Chennai in connection with the FIPB clearance given to INX Media where he is accused of receiving funds to the tune of Rs 305 crore in 2007 when his father P Chidambaram was the Union Finance Minister.