P Chidambaram Arrested In INX Media Scam

New Delhi: Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister P Chidambaram was arrested here on Wednesday evening following a high drama as a CBI team scaled walls to enter his residence. He has been taken to CBI headquarters here from his posh Jor Bagh residence.

Chidambaram had remained “incommunicado” in the wake of the Delhi High Court turning down his anticipatory bail plea in connection with the INX Media scam case. He had held a press conference prior to his arrest at the Congress headquarters, dismissing all charges against him.

Chidambaram said he was aghast over media reports which claimed that he had gone into hiding. “On the contrary, I was seeking the protection of the law. I was accused of running away from justice. I was engaged in the pursuit of justice.

He made a dramatic appearance at the Congress headquarters for the press conference at around 8 PM accompanied by senior party leaders Kapil Sibal, Salman Khurshid, Ghulam Nabi Azad, and Ahmed Patel.

Sibal, Khurshid and Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi, who are senior lawyers remained engaged in the Supreme Court throughout the day seeking interim relief against Tuesday’s order of the Delhi High Court cancelling Chidambaram’s anticipatory bail plea. However, the Court refused to hear the matter and posted the hearing for Friday.

Asked if they would move the Supreme Court tonight for his bail plea, Singhvi replied in negative. He said they would for Friday’s hearing.

The Enforcement Directorate had, earlier in the day, issued a lookout circular against Chidambaram after he went into hiding.

Reacting to his arrest, Chidambaram’s son Karti Chidambaram said it was a political witch-hunt.