SC grants bail to Chidambaram in INX case

Resmi Sivaram

Former union minister and senior Congress leader Palaniappan Chidambaram is set to walk out of Tihar jail after 106 days, as the Supreme Court of India granted him bail on Wednesday.

His son Karti Chidambaram said the veteran will attend Parliament on Thursday. The senior Chidambaram is a member of the upper chamber, Rajya Sabha while Karti is a Lok Sabha member.

The top court criticised the Delhi High Court for making observations on the merits of the case and noted that the “triple test” was found in the politician’s favour - that he was not absconding, not tampering with evidence and was cooperating with investigators.

The bench headed by Justice R. Bhanumathi imposed certain restrictions on Chidambaram. “Gravity of an offence is required to be kept in mind. The gravity of an offence is to be gathered from the facts and circumstances of each case,” said Justice Bopanna.

The bench said Chidambaram needs to co-operate with the investigation.

He won’t be able to make any statement to the press about the case and is also not allowed to travel overseas or to tamper with evidence or influence witnesses in the case.

Chidambaram has to furnish a bail bond of Rs200,000 along with two sureties of the same amount.

Senior Congress leaders including Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi had visited Chidambaram in jail.

“Phew, at last after 106 days,” tweeted Karti Chidambaram, with a smiley.

“I am very happy that he is going to be back home, I am relieved. He will also be attending Parliament session tomorrow,” Karti told reporters.

Rahul Gandhi said in his tweet: “Mr P. Chidambaram’s 106 day incarceration was vengeful & vindictive. I’m glad that the SC has granted him bail. I’m confident that he will be able to prove his innocence in a fair trial.”

Congress MP Shashi Taroor tweeted: “But justice delayed is justice denied. This should have been granted much earlier. Nothing is different from three months ago.” The BJP’s Sambit Patra took a swipe at him, saying he had joined the “OOBC (Out On Bail Club)” of the Congress.

Chidambaram, 74, had moved the Supreme Court seeking bail in the INX Media money-laundering case in which he was booked by the Enforcement Directorate.