Thread by @legaljournalist

#INXMediacase: ASG KM Nataraj commences arguments on behalf of Enforcement Directorate in bail plea by former Union Minister P Chidambaram.

#INXMediaCase: Solicitor General Tushar Mehta reaches court, takes over from ASG Nataraj.

#INXMediacase: We have documents to show that he wields substantial control over very crucial witnesses whether in our custody or not, submits SG Tushar Mehta.

#INXMediaCase: The finding of High Court that he has not tampered with witnesses is factually incorrect, says Mehta.

#INXMediaCase: The gravity of an offence has to been seen from the impact of the offence on the society. We have to consider whether the society will lose faith in the establishment or not, argues Mehta.

#INXMediaCase: That he should granted bail because has not committed an offence like Ranga Billa does not hold good, Mehta submits.

#INXMediaCase: Economic offences are always premeditated. It is a class of offence where the accused takes care to ensure that no trail of the offence is left, submits Tushar Mehta.

#INXMediaCase: Two individuals acted as agents of the petitioner to deal with INX Media. These agents collected proceeds on behalf of the petitioner. Shell companies were used to park the proceeds of the crime, submits Mehta.

#INXMediaCase: Subsequently, shareholding pattern of the companies was changed, foreign bank accounts were closed and fake evidence was created by petitioner, Mehta to SC.

#INXMediaCase: 16 shell companies were used to launder money. Properties linked to petitioner were found in 16 countries, Mehta.

#INXMediaCase: When we issued summons to a witness he wrote us back saying he cannot confront Chidambaram because he is too powerful. Two other witnesses did not even turn up, submits Mehta.

"It shows the fear which he evokes in the witnesses"

#INXMedia: Co conspirator Karti Chidambaram is not on regular bail or anticipatory bail in this ED offence. He has been given interim protection from arrest in a writ petition challenging the validity of certain provisions of PMLA, Mehta.

#INXMediaCase: The interim protection was allowed without going into the facts of the case.

Once that order granting interim protection is vacated, Karti will be arrested.

Thus, protection granted to Karti Chidambaram cannot be used as a ground to seek bail in this case, Mehta.

#INXMediaCase: Petitioner says he has nothing to do with Advantage Strategic.

We have evidence which shows that Advantage Strategic is nothing but an alter ego of petitioner and his son, submits Tushar Mehta.

#INXMediaCase: Mehta cites judgments which lay down that economic offences should be viewed seriously and there should be rigorous test for grant of bail.

#INXMediaCase: I would say that threshold for grant of bail in economic offences should be a little higher, Tushar Mehta.

#INXMediacase: SG Tushar Mehta concludes his arguments for Enforcement Directorate.

#INXMediaCase: Kapil Sibal responding to ED's arguments.

They have not produced one single document implicating me. Nothing has been recovered from me. If something is recovered from someone, take action against them, says Sibal.

#INXMediaCase: Assuming all their legal submissions are correct, my question is how am I involved in all these, asks Sibal.

#INXMediaCase: They have not given detail of one phone call, one meeting. If I created shell companies whom did I meet, where did I meet, what was the conspiracy, nothing has been stated, says Sibal.

#INXMediaCase: Supreme Court reserves verdict in bail plea by former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram in ED case. @htTweets