Source – thehindu.com<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A three-judge Bench of the\u00a0Supreme Court,\u00a0<\/strong>led by Justice R. Banumathi, will pronounce on October 22 its decision on the former Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram\u2019s petition for regular bail in the CBI part of the INX Media case. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The court had heard extensive arguments from Mr. Chidambaram\u2019s lawyers and Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta, for the CBI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Congress leader has challenged the Delhi High Court\u2019s decision to deny him regular bail on September 30. He has been remanded in the custody of the Enforcement Directorate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In his petition in the Supreme Court, Mr. Chidambaram said: \u201cHis continuing incarceration is in the form of punishment as his custody can neither be taken nor is required for the purpose of investigation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The High Court denied Mr. Chidambaram bail on the basis of Mr. Mehta\u2019s submissions, also reflected in a report filed in a sealed cover, that two material witnesses were \u201capproached\u201d and told not to disclose information about him and his son.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The single-judge Bench of the High Court had said: \u201cThis court cannot dispute the fact that the petitioner has been a strong Finance Minister and Home Minister and at present a Member of Indian Parliament. He is a respectable member of the Bar Association of the Supreme Court of India. He has long standing in the Bar as a senior advocate. He has deep roots in the Indian society, and maybe some connection abroad. But the fact that he will not influence witnesses directly or indirectly cannot be ruled out in view of the facts. Moreover, the investigation is at an advance stage; therefore, this court is not inclined to grant [him] bail.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n