Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram appeared at the Congress headquarters in New Delhi after the Supreme Court refused to hear his anticipatory bail plea on Wednesday. In his brief address to the media, Chidambaram claimed that he was not running, but preparing his defence. He said that he has not been named in the FIR by the Central Bureau of Investigation in the INX Media case.
P Chidambaram's lawyers on Wednesday filed a special leave petition (SLP) in the Supreme Court, seeking interim relief against yesterday's order of the Delhi High Court canceling his anticipatory bail plea. During the hearing, SC Judge Justice NV Ramana sent Chidambaram's plea before Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi to pass the order. The CJI is expected hear the plea later today. Senior Congress leader Chidambaram, who is facing arrest in the INX Media case, has been untraceable after 6.45 pm on Tuesday. The former finance minister is being investigated by both the CBI and the ED for allegedly influencing FIPB (Foreign Investment Promotion Board) clearances as the finance minister in the UPA government, and taking bribes through companies linked to his son Karti Chidambaram, who is now an MP. Both the agencies are still searching for Chidambaram. The ED on Wednesday also issued a lookout circular against the former Union minister. Earlier, Chidambaram's lawyer had requested the CBI not to take any action against the former union minister till the Supreme Court hearing in the case.