INX Media Case: P Chidambaram bail hearing in Supreme Court begins before Bench of Justices R Banumathi, AS Bopanna, and Hrishikesh Roy. ASG KM Natraj making submissions for ED @PChidambaram_IN @dir_ed #PChidambaram #INXMediaCase 
@PChidambaram_IN @dir_ed Nataraj reading out from ED's counter affidavit. #PChidambaram #INXMediaCase
@PChidambaram_IN @dir_ed SG Tushar Mehta continues submissions for ED. Says he will make arguments under 3 categories: manner in which offence has taken place, gravity of the offence, and documents to show that P Chidambaram wields substantial control over crucial witnesses. #PChidambaram #INXMediaCase
@PChidambaram_IN @dir_ed Mehta: Witnesses are not ready to come face-to-face with him. One witness wrote a letter saying so. Will not name him for security reasons. #INXMediaCase #PChidambaram
@PChidambaram_IN @dir_ed On Kapil Sibal's "Ranga Billa" comment made yesterday: Are we only going to take offences seriously if the offender is Ranga Billa? Mehta asks #INXMediaCase #PChidambaram @KapilSibal @PChidambaram_IN
@PChidambaram_IN @dir_ed @KapilSibal Economic offences are serious offences. Society in general is aggrieved. It is a grave offence and there cannot be a straitjacket formula that unless I am Ranga Billa, I cannot be put in jail #INXMediaCase #PChidambaram
@PChidambaram_IN @dir_ed @KapilSibal The Benami properties are outside the country and can be traced to the family of the petitioner. Properties can be linked to him and the co-conspirators, Mehta #INXMediaCase #PChidambaram
@PChidambaram_IN @dir_ed @KapilSibal Mehta: My witnesses are vulnerable if the petitioner is granted bail. These are not strangers, they are part of the process or are ostensible owners of the properties. #INXMediaCase #PChidambaram
@PChidambaram_IN @dir_ed @KapilSibal Mehta: These are not offences committed in the heat of the moment. Murder is sometimes committed in the heat of the moment, and bail is granted on some conditions. But economic offences are always pre-meditated and calculated. #INXMediaCase #PChidambaram
@PChidambaram_IN @dir_ed @KapilSibal This makes them a class of offence. It is a kind of offence where the accused makes sure that no trace is left, in case it is investigated in the future, Mehta. #INXMediaCase #INXMedia #PChidambaram
@PChidambaram_IN @dir_ed @KapilSibal Mehta: It's not that he (Chidambaram) is an innocent man who was kept in the dark #INXMediaCase #INXMedia #PChidambaram
@PChidambaram_IN @dir_ed @KapilSibal This is not a case confined to INX Media, there are other companies that also applied for FIPB approvals, Mehta. #INXMediaCase #PChidambaram #INXMedia
@PChidambaram_IN @dir_ed @KapilSibal Mehta: In this kind of well thought out and well crafted economic offence, the accused may not get directly involved. But we have said that we can establish the link #INXMediaCase #PChidambaram
@PChidambaram_IN @dir_ed @KapilSibal Mehta: As a nation, we are at a crossroads where we are facing the menace of economic offences. What sanctity do we want to give to the gravity of offences of money laundering? #INXMediaCase #PChidambaram
@PChidambaram_IN @dir_ed @KapilSibal Mehta: While supporting the Delhi HC order, I am entitled to say that some findings (with respect to influencing witnesses and tampering evidence) are incorrect. #INXMediaCase #PChidambaram
@PChidambaram_IN @dir_ed @KapilSibal In CBI case, both High Court and Supreme Court said that Chidambaram is not a flight risk. So as a responsible agency, we did not urge on this point, Mehta #INXMediaCase #PChidambaram
@PChidambaram_IN @dir_ed @KapilSibal Mehta reiterates that a very vital, key person wrote a letter - not a recorded statement - that he does not want to be confronted in the presence of the petitioner and the same was considered by the High Court. #PChidambaram #INXMediaCase
@PChidambaram_IN @dir_ed @KapilSibal Mehta: Other witnesses were also called but they did not turn up when they were called to be confronted with the petitioner.#INXMediaCase #PChidambaram
@PChidambaram_IN @dir_ed @KapilSibal Mehta: The fact that they did not even turn up shows the kind of power he (Chidambaram) wields and the fear in the minds of the witnesses. #INXMediaCase #PChidambaram
@PChidambaram_IN @dir_ed @KapilSibal Mehta submits that the reason why Karti Chidambaram has not been arrested thus far is on account of the interim protection afforded to him by the Delhi High Court @KartiPC #INXMediaCase #PChidambaram
@PChidambaram_IN @dir_ed @KapilSibal @KartiPC The agency will move to arrest Karti Chidambaram when the interim protection is vacated, Mehta says @KartiPC #INXMediaCase #PChidambaram
@PChidambaram_IN @dir_ed @KapilSibal @KartiPC We have gone past Indrani and Peter Mukherjea. As it turns out, it is not just INX Media; the case concerns FIPB approvals of more compan
@PChidambaram_IN @dir_ed @KapilSibal @KartiPC Mehta: There is a growing trend that articles are published at crucial times, sometimes before hearings, criticising the Court's decisions. Unfortunately, some people of our fraternity are also doing this. I leave it at that. #PChidambaram #INXMediaCase
@PChidambaram_IN @dir_ed @KapilSibal @KartiPC He was not an innocent and unknowing bystander. A common man's faith in the establishment is shaken unless are able to successfully bring back probity in public, Mehta #INXMediaCase #PChidambaram
@PChidambaram_IN @dir_ed @KapilSibal @KartiPC Mehta: Wrong message goes to the public at large. The question is whether as an institution, we want to send a message to the public at large whether we see economic offences with a permissive eye. #INXMediaCase #PChidambaram
@PChidambaram_IN @dir_ed @KapilSibal @KartiPC Mehta: A separate standard should be applied when it comes to people holding high offices, especially those elected by the people. #INXMediaCase #PChidambaram
@PChidambaram_IN @dir_ed @KapilSibal @KartiPC Mehta taking the Court through precedents in support of his argument. "A more rigorous test should be applied in case of economic offences." #INXMediaCase #PChidambaram
@PChidambaram_IN @dir_ed @KapilSibal @KartiPC My submission is that High Court order doesn't need interference, Mehta concludes and requests to file evidence in a sealed cover. #INXMediaCase #PChidambaram
@PChidambaram_IN @dir_ed @KapilSibal @KartiPC Kapil Sibal begins rejoinder arguments. Throughout the counter affidavit, there is no mention of me directly linked to the case. There are only allegations, Sibal, @KapilSibal #INXMediaCase #PChidambaram
@PChidambaram_IN @dir_ed @KapilSibal @KartiPC On what basis does anybody say that I (Chidambaram) have influenced anybody? If a witness hasn't come, he hasn't come, Sibal #INXMediaCase #PChidambaram
@PChidambaram_IN @dir_ed @KapilSibal @KartiPC Sibal: A summons never says that you have to be confronted. Summons only says that you have to come #INXMediaCase #PChidambaram
@PChidambaram_IN @dir_ed @KapilSibal @KartiPC Sibal: I am in their custody and some witnesses chose not to come and they have assumed that I have influenced them. #INXMediaCase #PChidambaram
@PChidambaram_IN @dir_ed @KapilSibal @KartiPC Sibal: They are saying that Benami property can be traced to my family. But what is my role? I am asking for bail #INXMediacase #PChidambaram
@PChidambaram_IN @dir_ed @KapilSibal @KartiPC Sibal: The recoveries made are also not from me. I may agree with the submissions made by the SG on economic offences, but what is my role in all this? #INXMediacase #PChidambaram
@PChidambaram_IN @dir_ed @KapilSibal @KartiPC Sibal: They cannot destroy a man's career and reputation by making all these allegations that have no legal standing. #INXMediacase #PChidambaram
@PChidambaram_IN @dir_ed @KapilSibal @KartiPC Sibal: If they reveal an act that they say I had done, it won't prejudice anyone. This is not a cloak and dagger situation #INXMediacase #PChidambaram
@PChidambaram_IN @dir_ed @KapilSibal @KartiPC Sibal: They are saying that someone close to me created some company and because that person is close to me, it must be done at my behest #INXMediacase #PChidambaram
@PChidambaram_IN @dir_ed @KapilSibal @KartiPC Sibal: There is no reference to me. Somebody else has done something, I am vicariously liable and there is an economic offence and I should be sent to jail? #INXMediacase #PChidambaram
@PChidambaram_IN @dir_ed @KapilSibal @KartiPC Sibal: Then they say, "petitioner, being the father of Karti..." So from kingpin, I've become father. If at all my son may have done something wrong, why should I be liable? #INXMediacase #PChidambaram
@PChidambaram_IN @dir_ed @KapilSibal @KartiPC Sibal contests the applicability of the precedents cited by Mehta in the case #INXMediacase #PChidambaram
@PChidambaram_IN @dir_ed @KapilSibal @KartiPC Kapil Sibal concludes rejoinder submissions. Abhishek Manu Singhvi starts rejoinder arguments. @DrAMSinghvi #INXMediacase #PChidambaram
@PChidambaram_IN @dir_ed @KapilSibal @KartiPC @DrAMSinghvi Singhvi: If there are triple tests and other factors in my favour, then gravity of offence cannot operate. Else it will mean that I should be in jail for eternity. #INXMediacase #PChidambaram
@PChidambaram_IN @dir_ed @KapilSibal @KartiPC @DrAMSinghvi Singhvi concludes. Mehta seeks permission from Court to place three sets of sealed covers on record through the Registrar #INXMediacase #PChidambaram
@PChidambaram_IN @dir_ed @KapilSibal @KartiPC @DrAMSinghvi Supreme Court reserves order in the case. Directs the Registry to accept the three sets of sealed covers from the ED and keep them in safe custody for the perusal of the Court. #INXMediacase #PChidambaram #SupremeCourt
