Coal scam case: Next hearing on 10 Dec
The charge framing is once again deferred in the high profile coal scam case in CBI Special Court in Asansol today as one of the main accused Bikash Mishra was not present in the court.
Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Thursday moved the Supreme Court seeking an early hearing on his bail plea in the INX media case.
Justice NV Ramana said that Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi will take a decision later during the day. The file was sent to him for consideration of listing of the matter.
The Delhi High Court had on Monday once again rejected the bail application of Chidambaram in the INX Media case on the ground that the Congress leader might influence witnesses.
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Justice Suresh Kumar Kait, however, rejected CBI’s argument that Chidambaram is at flight risk as a Look Out Circular (LOC) is issued against him, or he might tamper with the evidence. He said that there is no evidence that Chidambaram was a flight risk. But the judge agreed that “the investigation is at an advanced stage and hence, it cannot be ruled out that he may influence witnesses.”
The Congress leader has been lodged in Tihar jail since September 5, when the court sent him to 14 days judicial custody till October 3. On August 21, the CBI had arrested Chidambaram from his residence in Jor Bagh, New Delhi.
Chidambaram is under probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and ED over alleged irregularities in the FIPB clearance granted to INX Media for receiving overseas funds of Rs 305 crore in 2007 during his tenure as Union Finance Minister.
The ED suspects the Congress leader and his son Karti of owning several immovable properties and over 16 bank accounts in other countries, which they are trying to identify to trace the money trail.
The ED, in September 2017, had attached assets worth Rs 1.16 crore of Karti who is under probe for allegedly receiving kickbacks in lieu of the FIPB clearance.
P Chidambaram and his son Karti were named by Peter and Indrani Mukerjea, who owned INX Media at the time and are currently in jail in connection with the murder of Indrani Mukerjea’s daughter Sheena Bora.
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