INX Media case: Chidambaram to remain in CBI custody till September 2

Apex court also scheduled to take up former union minister's plea against CBI custody on Monday

A special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Court on Friday extended the CBI custody of former finance minister P Chidambaram till September 2, when the Supreme Court is slated to hear Chidambaram’s plea against him being sent into the custody of the probe agency. The former union minister has been in the custody of the probe agency since August 21.

During the arguments on Friday, the CBI sought custody of Chidambaram for five more days as he had only been partially interrogated. This, however, miffed the court a little, and it sought to know as to why the probe agency had not sought Chidambaram’s custody for 15 days at the very beginning on August 21.

In its reply, the CBI said that though Chidambaram was being questioned for close to 10 hours every day, he was taking a lot of time to answer the queries.

 Chidambaram had earlier offered to remain in CBI’s custody till September 2. His offer came during a hearing on his plea challenging a Delhi high court order, which had denied him anticipatory bail in the INX Media case.

A two judge Bench of Justice R Banumathi and Justice A S Bopanna has reserved its order after hearing Chidambaram’s as well as ED’s counsels for four days. 

The court is scheduled to pronounce its verdict on September 5.