Supreme Court grants interim protection to P Chidambaram

Chidambaram outside CBI court on Thursday. Pic/PTI

The Supreme Court has granted protection from arrest to P Chidambaram in the ED money laundering case till Monday but there was no relief for him in the CBI case. The next date of hearing in the case will be on August 26, 2019.

Chidambaram, who was arrested Wednesday night and spent a quiet night at the agency guest house was produced in the special court which "justified" CBI's demand for his custodial interrogation.

The court had earlier made it clear that "the investigating agency will ensure that the personal dignity of the accused is not violated in any manner". Allegations of payment made to Chidambaram in 2007-08 and 2008-09 are "specific and categorical" and the "trail of this money", if so paid, is to be ascertained, the court said.

According to news agency PTI, the bench which comprised of justices A S Bopanna and R Banumathi posted both the matters for hearing on Monday, August 26.

An exchange of words was witnessed between the prosecution counsel and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta as well as senior advocate and P Chidambaram's party colleagues Kapil Sibal and A M Singhvi. SG Mehta vehemently opposed the order granting protection from arrest to Chidambaram in the money laundering case registered by the ED.

With inputs from PTI

Catch up on all the latest Crime, National, International and Hatke news here. Also download the new mid-day Android and iOS apps to get latest updates