SC dismisses Chidambaram's plea for anticipatory bail in INX Media case

In a setback for senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, the Supreme Court on Monday dismissed his appeal against a Delhi High Court order denying anticipatory bail in a case filed by the Central Bureau of Investgation over the INX Media scam.

Calling Chidambaram's plea invalid, the Supreme Court said since Chidambaram was already in the custody of the CBI, his plea against the Delhi HC order dismissing anticipatory bail was infructuous.

Chidambaram had earlier moved the Supreme Court on Monday, but the Supreme Court said his plea challenging the trial court's order remanding him to CBI custody in the INX media case won’t be listed for hearing despite the apex court's direction on August 23.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Chidambaram, mentioned the matter before a bench headed by Justice R Banumathi and said that during the hearing on Friday last, the court had said that the plea challenging the remand order would be taken up for hearing today but it has not been listed for arguments.

Chidambaram's pleas challenging the Delhi High Court's August 28 order dismissing his anticipatory bail in the INX media case lodged by CBI and ED were listed for hearing in the Supreme Court on Monday.

Chidambaram is being investigated by both the CBI and the ED over charges of money laundering and corruption.