The CBI has confronted the arrested former finance minister P Chidambaram with former NITI Aayog CEO Sindhushree Khullar in connection with the INX Media case. A 1975-batch IAS officer of the Union Territory cadre, Khullar was the additional secretary in the Finance Ministry when developments related to the INX Media allegedly took place in the ministry, they said. According to her Executive Record sheet, she was the Additional Secretary in the Department of Economic Affairs from April 11, 2007 to September 11, 2008. She was promoted as Special Secretary in the department and held the post from September 12, 2008 to November 2, 2008. In January 2015, Khullar was appointed the first CEO of the NITI Aayog, which had replaced the Planning Commission. She arrived at the CBI headquarters in the morning but the questioning could not be completed as the officials had to take Chidambaram to a special court, they said. Speaking on the matter, Swamy took to Twitter to say that CBI should ask for narco test if P Chidambaram continues to be evasive. 

 

Chidambaram's CBI custody extended by 4 days in INX Media case

SC dismissed Chidambaram's plea, remand extended:

In a major setback for senior Congress leader P Chidambaram, the Special CBI court on Monday has extended the CBI remand of the former Union Minister by 4 days in connection with the INX Media case. He will be produced before the court on August 30. This development has come shortly after the Supreme Court dismissed Chidambaram's plea challenging the Delhi High Court's order which denied him anticipatory bail in connection with INX Media case. After a dramatic turn of events, Chidambaram was detained by CBI officials from his Delhi residence on August 21 and has been in the custody of the probe agency since then.

READ | Congress attacks Delhi HC in SC against Chidambaram-INX Media case

Earlier on Monday, the Supreme Court while dismissing Chidambaram's plea challenging the Delhi High Court's order which denied him anticipatory bail said that the Congress leader could move for a regular bail at an appropriate court. The apex court said that his petition against the CBI became infructuous since Chidambaram had been arrested on August 21 by the central agency. Chidambaram's counsel and Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi pleaded with the Supreme Court to reverse Chidambaram's arrest and that status quo before the arrest be restored, but the top court dismissed the plea against the CBI. The apex court said that it is inclined to dismiss Chidambaram's plea against the CBI.

READ: Chidamabaram at AICC after 27 hour absence, watch moment he surfaced

Congress attacks judiciary on Chidambaram

In the Supreme Court on Monday, arguing for P Chidamabaram, Congress leader and his advocate Kapil Sibal lashed out at the Delhi Court. He questioned as to why the judge hearing the case in Delhi HC waited for seven months to declare his verdict in the INX Media case. He also questioned why it took him so long to understand the gravity of the case. Significantly, Chidambaram faces a CBI and an ED case in connection with the INX media scam. "Why did the judge wait for seven months to give his verdict? It took him seven months to understand the gravity of the offence?" said Sibal. He went on to question as to why the Delhi High Court had termed Chidambaram as the 'Kingpin' of the INX media scam. He had also alleged that he was not privy to documents shared by the ED to the Court. 

READ: Chidambaram claims innocence, attacks agencies despite kingpin label

Chidambaram arrested

After 27 hours of being untraceable when Congress leader P Chidambaram arrived at the AICC head office for a press conference, and within minutes returned to his Jor Bagh residence, the CBI followed him and arrested him on Wednesday. In unprecedented visuals, the CBI team climbed the walls of Chidambaram's residence to enter his place. The CBI officials after 55-minutes long drama arrested former finance minister for custodial interrogation in the money laundering and corruption cases. Chidamabaram's plea seeking anticipatory bail in the INX media case was rejected by Supreme Court on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Supreme Court listed the plea of Chidambaram seeking interim relief from arrest on Friday. The CBI and ED issued lookout notice to the leader, and said in the Supreme Court that custodial interrogation is necessary as Chidambaram is being evasive. 

READ: IRONY: Chidambaram to spend night in CBI HQ he inaugurated in 2011