New Delhi / Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi visit P. Chidambaram in Tihar jail

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi visited former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram in Tihar jail on Monday.

Mr. Chidambaram, who was was arrested on August 21, is in jail under judicial custody, facing charges of corruption in the INX Media case.

“I have asked my family to tweet on my behalf the following: I am honoured that Smt. Sonia Gandhi and Dr. Manmohan Singh called on me today,” Mr. Chidambaram’s official handle tweeted.

“As long as the @INCIndia party is strong and brave, I will also be strong and brave,” he added.

I have asked my family to tweet on my behalf the following:

I am honoured that Smt. Sonia Gandhi and Dr. Manmohan Singh called on me today.

As long as the @INCIndia party is strong and brave, I will also be strong and brave.

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) September 23, 2019

Investigating agencies such as the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Enforcement Directorate have accused Mr. Chidambaram of taking a bribe to allow foreign investment into INX Media.

But the Congress has strongly denied any wrongdoing and maintained that the case a “paramount example of political vendetta”.

Last week, leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad and Congress leader Ahmed Patel had visited Mr Chidambaram in a show of solidarity.

On Friday, addressing a press conference, former Union Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh alleged that the government was “planning a conspiracy to defame and character assassinate” the former Finance Minister in the INX Media case.

“INX Media file was one among 24 other FIPB proposals and had the signatures of 11 other officials. No official dissented or made a comment...These aspects have not been revealed by the agencies,” he said.

Now, if the penalty for signing on a file, based on what has come to the Minister, is custody in Tihar jail, I can assure, no Minister will sign any file,” he added.