A Delhi court on Thursday granted anticipatory bail to former Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram and his son Karti P. Chidambaram in the Arcel-Maxis case.

Granting the relief, Special Judge O.P. Saini said: “In the even of their arrest, both applicants/accused namely Shree Karti P. Chidambaram and Shree P. Chidamabram shall be released on bail on their furnishing personal bond in the sum ₹1,00,000 each with one surety in the like amount to the satisfaction of investigating officer/arresting officer/Duty Magistrate...”

“Considering the the distance of time between the commission of alleged crime and the filing of the instant application, unexplained delay in investigation, there being no possibility of the applicants/accused tampering with the evidence or threatening any witness or fleeing from justice and there being no possibility also of applicants/accused committing a similar crime again, I am satisfied that it is a fit case for grant of benefit of anticipatory bail ,” the Judge said.

The Chidambarams are under the scanner of investigating agencies in the Aircel-Maxis deal as also the INX Media case involving ₹305 crore.