Truth finally prevails, says Congress

Phew. At last after 106 days :) — Karti P Chidambaram (@KartiPC) 1575436256000

Mr P Chidambaram’s 106 day incarceration was vengeful & vindictive. I'm glad that the SC has granted him bail. I'm… https://t.co/KUqnsn80xr — Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) 1575449057000

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted bail to former finance minister P Chidambaram in a money laundering case lodged by Enforcement Directorate in INX Media case.Though the apex court agreed that economic offence comes within the category of grave crime, it however granted relief to Chidambaram saying the bail is the rule and jail is exception.A three-judge bench, headed by Justice R Banumathi, directed Chidambaram to furnish a bail bond of Rs 2 lakhs along with two sureties of the same amount. The court also said that the Congress leader cannot travel abroad without its permission. The bench, also comprising Justices AS Bopanna and Hrishikesh Royset, set aside the Delhi high court's November 15 verdict denying bail to the former Union finance minister.While granting bail, the court instructed that Chidambaram should not tamper with the evidence and not influence the witnesses. He should also not give press interviews or make make public statements in connection with this case.The Congress leader, who has spent more than 100 days in custody, is all set to come out of Tihar Jail as he had already been granted bail in the same case filed by the CBI.However, the bail order of the court will not have bearing on any other accused in case.The bench said it was initially not inclined to open the sealed cover material placed before it by the ED. But since the high court had perused the material, it was imperative for the top court to go through the documents, it said.After pronouncing the verdict, it directed the apex court registry to return the sealed cover material back to the ED.The apex court made it clear that its order would not be construed to be the findings on merits of the case.During arguments in the top court, the ED claimed that Chidambaram continued to wield "substantial influence" on crucial witnesses in the case even while in custody. The Congress leader said the agency cannot "destroy" his career and reputation by making baseless allegations.Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the ED, said economic offences like money laundering are grave in nature as they not only affect the nation's economy but also shake people's faith in the system, especially when it is committed by people in power.Representing Chidambaram, senior advocates Kapil Sibal and A M Singhvi countered Mehta's submissions and said there was neither any evidence linking Chidambaram directly or indirectly with the alleged offence nor any material to show that he had influenced witnesses or tampered with any evidence.Chidambaram's son Karti Chidambaram responded to the court's order with a tweet — "Phew. At last after 106 days :)"The Congress party hailed the apex court's order. "Truth finally prevails," it was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, however, was not satisified with the "delayed" bail order."But justice delayed is justice denied. This should have been granted much earlier. Nothing is different from three months ago," he tweeted.Chidambaram had moved the apex court challenging order of the Delhi HC which had refused to grant him bail. He has been in custody since August 21 when he was first arrested by CBI in the INX Media case and later his custody was handed over to ED. Chidambaram, who has already been granted bail by the apex court in the CBI case, was lodged in Tihar jail under judicial custody in the ED case. He has already spent over 100 days in custody.Pleading for bail, the Congress leader told the SC that he is not a hardened criminal who should not be allowed to get out of jail and accused the ED of intentionally delaying investigations to ensure that he remained behind bars.Read this story in BengaliRead this story in Marathi