No exceptional circumstance in Chidambaram's case for hearing his plea in lunch break, CBI tells SC

The CBI told the Supreme Court Wednesday there is no "exceptional circumstance" in former finance minister P Chidambaram's plea seeking bail in the INX Media corruption case for the court to hear it during the lunch break.

"Is this a matter which cannot wait for even a day?", Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the CBI, asked a bench, headed by Justice R Banumathi, which initially said that it would hear his arguments in the case during the recess at 1.30 PM on Thursday.

Mehta, who was arguing in a separate land acquisition matter before a 5-judge Constitution bench, rushed to the court hearing Chidambaram's plea and tendered an apology for seeking a day's accommodation for arguing the case on behalf of the CBI.

At the outset, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) K M Natraj, who was also appearing for CBI, urged the bench that the matter should be heard on Friday as Mehta was on his legs before the Constitution bench.

The bench, also comprising justices A S Bopanna and Hrishikesh Roy, however told Natraj to advance arguments and take it through the counter affidavit filed by the CBI and said that it would hear Mehta's submission on Thursday.

While the ASG was reading out the relevant portion of the CBI's counter affidavit filed in the matter, Mehta appeared in the court.

"I have taken five minutes time from the Constitution bench to come to this court to tender an apology. I am on my legs before the constitution bench. No prejudice would be caused to the other side as he (Chidambaram) has been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate today," Mehta told the bench.

"It is really embarrassing. Have it day after tomorrow. My role would be over before the Constitution bench by tomorrow. I am requesting that this matter be heard at 2 PM on Friday," he said.

To this, the bench told Mehta, "We will assemble at 1.30 PM tomorrow. You come and argue tomorrow."