Central agency says "our experience tells those who fled country were respectable, responsible businessmen"
The CBI on Friday brought up a fresh charge against Congress leader and former finance minister P Chidambaram of "destroying" the evidence of meeting Indrani Mukerjea, who later turned an approver in the INX Media case.
Seeking cancellation of Chidambaram's bail, the CBI through its counsel, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta described the 74-year-old politician a "flight risk" because – "he is accused of a serious offence; he knows that conviction is likely; and he has the resources to sustain himself in another country indefinitely."
"Lawmakers cannot be allowed to become lawbreakers. We are not calling Chidambaram a flight risk because he vanished for 24 hours, but because he is accused of a serious offence. He knows conviction is likely and has the resources to flee to another country," Mehta told the court.
KARTI DENIES IT
|
- Chidambaram’s son Karti, who is also an accused in the INX media case but is out on bail, has reacted sharply to the fresh allegations against his father
- Is @BJP4India govt suggesting my father destroyed visitors log book of @FinMinIndia for a FIR of 2017? Who was in govt when FIR was filed?, he tweeted
|
Chidambaram is lodged in CBI custody since August 21 on charges of misusing his position as union finance minister to benefit INX Media, in which Indrani Mukerjea and her husband Peter Mukerjea had a major share.
Appearing for Chidambaram, Kapil Sibal told the Delhi high court that there was no evidence to link his client with Indrani Mukerjea.
"Hundreds of delegations call on the Finance Minister. I have no recollection of an INX Media delegation calling on me. I am certain I had never met Indrani Mukerjea at any place," Sibal told the court on behalf of his client.
Contesting the claim, Mehta said the visitor's logbook of the day on which Chidambaram met Indrani Mukerjea was missing. "On investigation, it appeared visitors' register has been destroyed," Mehta said.
He further stated that even though the visitor log appears to have been destroyed, there is evidence from Oberoi Hotel which corroborates that Indrani Mukerjea and husband Peter Mukerjea used hotel's vehicle to visit Chidambaram.
In addition, the CBI also objected to Chidambaram's bail application claiming he might influence witnesses in the INX Media case.
Records make out a grave case against the accused, said Mehta adding "Documents will show that offences under India Penal Code, Prevention of Corruption Act and Prevention of Money Laundering Act have been committed."
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "P Chidambaram")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}