Chidambaram to remain in CBI custody till Sep 2
A special court on Friday allowed the CBI to further interrogate Chidambaram for three more days as the Supreme Court is seized of his plea for protection from arrest by the Enforcement Directorate for alleged money-laundering in the same case.
The SC has reserved its ruling in Chidambaram's plea with regard to the ED for September 5 till when he can't be arrested by the agency. Another extension of the CBI custody to the full 14 days of permissible police remand will take the Congress's leader's interrogation to when the SC is to pronounce on his anticipatory bail with regard to the charges being investigated by the ED.
Special judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar, who heard the arguments on Friday, said, "Investigation being the prerogative of the investigating officer and given the fact that the record is voluminous and accused needs to be confronted, more time is required. In view of the submissions made, the accused is sent to police custody remand till September 2."
In his submission to the court, Chidambaram said he had been subjected to 55 hours of interrogation with 400 questions which he answered promptly. "Three files have been shown to me over 20 times," he said.
Chidambaram was produced in court after his CBI custody remand, granted on August 26, got over. So far, he has been subjected to custodial interrogation for eight days since his arrest on August 21, following the dismissal of his anticipatory bail plea on August 20.
Additional solicitor general K M Nataraj sought extension of the senior leader's custodial interrogation by five more days. Nataraj submitted that extensive interrogation was conducted and he was confronted with relevant records and statements of witnesses. The agency submitted that investigation could not be completed as Chidambaram was evasive and non-cooperative and that there were voluminous documents that required to be presented to the accused.
The court then asked Chidambaram's counsel whether he was opposing the extension of police custody. The lawyer said Chidambaram can be sent to CBI custody till Monday, September 2.
"Since the matter is pending in the Supreme Court, I am willing to be in custody till Monday," he said.
Nataraj said Chidambaram had agreed before the SC that he had no problem if the CBI custody was extended till Monday.
On hearing this, judge Kuhar said, "You were aware about the volume of documents, why did you ask for only five days custody for the first time.
Second time also you asked for five days only. Why this approach?" Nataraj replied that it all depended on what was elicited from Chidambaram's answers.
The CBI said Chidambaram was not giving straight answers though he had been interrogated about for 8-10 hours daily. Nataraj said Chidambaram had agreed before the SC that he had no problem if the CBI custody was extended till Monday.
The court then asked senior counsel Dayan Krishnan who appeared for Chidambaram and CBI to discuss and decide how much custody is required. "What's the use of this court?" the judge asked.
The court then asked Chidambaram's counsel whether he was opposing the extension of police custody. The lawyer said Chidambaram can be sent to CBI custody till Monday, September 2.
"Since the matter is pending in the Supreme Court, I am willing to be in custody till Monday," he said.
from India News | Latest News Headlines & Live Updates from India - Times of India https://ift.tt/2LdcAdW
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