Delhi HC denies P Chidambaram's interim bail request, directs Tihar to provide clean and hygienic surrounding

Delhi High Court on Friday refused to interim bail to former Finance Minister P Chidambaram who had sought relief from the court on medical grounds. 

Chidambaram, arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on October 16 and currently lodged at Tihar jail, had claimed that he needs "urgent medical treatment for the acute and persistent abdominal pain being experienced" by him since October 5 due to Crohn's disease. The HC had then directed the AIIMS director to constitute a medical board to give an opinion on the health of the senior Congress leader.

The AIIMS medical board opined that Chidambaram's vitals were normal and hospitalisation was not necessary following which the court refused to grant interim bail to the former Union Minister. 

Justice Suresh Kumar Kait, in his order, however, issued a slew of directives to Tihar jail authorities to provide Chidambaram healthy environment. 

His jail cell and the surroundings are to be kept clean, he will be provided mineral water, mosquito net and mask, the court directed the jail superintendent. Besides, regular monitoring of his blood pressure in addition to further test has to be carried out. The follow up on outpatient basis has to be done, the court said while disposing of the petition.

Chidambaram has been lodged in Tihar Jail since September 5 in a corruption case related to the alleged scam being probed by the CBI and ED.

Last week, the Supreme Court had granted bail to Chidambaram in the INX Media case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). CBI had arrested P Chidambaram on August 21.

He was sent to judicial custody till November 13 by a local court earlier this week. 

While the CBI is probing the corruption allegations, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) is looking into money laundering allegations against him in the case.

On May 15, 2017, the CBI had registered a case against INX Media Private Limited for alleged irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance given to the media group.

The company had allegedly received Rs 305 crore as overseas fund in 2007 during Chidambaram's tenure as the finance minister though it had the permission to source foreign investments worth Rs 4.62 Crore only. 

The group allegedly received Rs 40.91 crore through a sister company without the necessary approvals from FIPB and violated the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).