Setback to Chidambaram's move for early exit from jail, court dismisses plea for surrender to ED

In a setback to former finance minister P Chidambaram's move for an early exit from Tihar jail, a Delhi Court on Friday dismissed his plea to surrender before the Enforcement Directorate(ED) in the money laundering case in the INX Media scam.

The court order giving the ED the "exclusive right" to decide when to arrest a person for custodial interrogation effectively meant that Chidambaram will continue to be in jail till September 19. On September 5, the 73-year-old Congress veteran was remanded to 14-day judicial custody in a related corruption case filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI).

Special Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar said the court cannot interfere in the decision of the ED, which has preferred not to arrest Chidambaram at the moment and also there was no process issued against him by the court. Therefore "his surrender application will not ipso facto be accepted," the judge said.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the ED, earlier told the court that the ...