New delhi sources stated that the supreme court (SC) on thursday reserved its verdict on the plea filed by senior congress leader P chidambaram seeking bail in the INX-Media money laundering case. Meanwhile a three-judge bench, headed by Justice R Banumathi, asked the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to submit in a sealed cover the relevant documents related to the case, which the probe agency wants to place on record for the perusal of the court.
Furthermore ED claimed that chidambaram continues to wield 'substantial influence' on crucial witnesses even from custody.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the ED, told a bench headed by Justice R Banumathi that economic offences are grave in nature as they not only affect the nation's economy but also shake people's faith in the system. Mehta told the bench, also comprising Justices AS Bopanna and Hrishikesh Roy, that during the investigation, the ED has identified 12 bank accounts in which proceeds of crime were deposited and the agency also has details of 12 properties which were purchased in several foreign countries.
Moreover the apex court was hearing an appeal filed by 74 year old chidambaram challenging the delhi high court verdict denying him bail in the case. Senior advocate kapil sibal, appearing for chidambaram, told the apex court that he has been kept in jail 'unfairly' for the last 98 days just because he is the father of Karti, a key accused in the case, and there was not a 'single evidence' linking him to it.
chidambaram was first arrested by the cbi on august 21 in the INX media corruption case and was granted bail by the top court on october 22.
