PC fails to get reprieve from arrest from SC: ED,CBI issue Look Out Circular

Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram facing arrest in the INX media case failed to get any immediate reprieve from the Supreme Court on Wednesday and his whereabouts remained unknown prompting the CBI and the ED to issue a Look Out Circular that will prevent him from leaving the country.

With the apex court deciding to hear only on Friday Chidambaram's petition seeking a stay on the Delhi High Court order on Tuesday that dismissed his anticipatory bail plea, the Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate(ED)--have got a free hand to arrest the former union home and finance minister.

As the possible action against Chidambaram triggered a political slugfest between the Congress and the BJP, the troubles for the 73-year-old Congress leader mounted with official sources saying the ED's money laundering probe against him has been widened.

The ED suspects the Congress leader's role in granting alleged illegal FIPB clearances to at least four more business deals, apart from INX Media and Aircel-Maxis, and receiving multi-crore kickbacks through multiple shell firms, the sources said