Nalini Chidambaram Granted Interim Protection From Arrest by Madras High Court in Saradha Chit Fund Case
Special Public Prosecutor G Hema strongly opposed the petition and argued that the court should not entertain Nalini's plea since it does not have jurisdiction in the matter.
Chennai, January 12: The Madras High Court on Saturday granted a breather to Nalini Chidambaram, the wife of former finance minister P Chidambaram, by granting her interim protection from arrest in a case linked to the "Saradha chit fund scam". Ruling in her favour, Justice G K Elanthiraiyan granted her a four-week interim protection from arrest, till she attains an anticipatory bail from a West Bengal court.
Special Public Prosecutor (Enforcement Directorate) G Hema strongly opposed the petition and argued that the court should not entertain Nalini's plea since it does not have jurisdiction in the matter. Rafale Row: Nothing Can Stop Parliament, Present or Future, From Examining the Deal, Says P Chidambaram.
The ED had registered an ECIR (Enforcement Case Information Report) in the matter under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
Nalini, a senior advocate, moved her application apprehending arrest a day after the CBI filed a charge sheet against her in a Kolkata court, alleging she had received Rs 1.4 crore from Saradha group of companies, which was involved in a chit fund "scam".
In her plea, Nalini contended that the alleged payout was a legitimate fee from Saradha Realty Limited on behalf of Manoranjana Sinh in connection with Positive TV.
Notably, her name does not figure in the previous CBI charge sheets against proprietor of the Saradha group Sudipto Sen and his companies in connection with the alleged chit fund scam, she said.
"In total contradiction of such previous charge sheets, on January 11, the CBI filed the sixth supplementary charge sheet before a West Bengal court for offences, including conspiracy under the IPC, alleging her involvement in the scam," counsel for Nalini said.
There cannot be a change in stand by the CBI in the subsequent supplementary charge sheet wherein it had made "legal fee" as "bribe money," she contended.
It is settled law that after registration of FIR and till the time of filing a charge sheet, if a person is not arrested, then a person need not to be subjected to custodial investigation.
In such cases, the person can appear before the court after receipt of summons.
Nalini alleged that the government has been misusing the central agencies by filing false cases against her family members due to "political vendetta".
The CBI had alleged that Nalini entered into a criminal conspiracy with Sen and other accused persons with an intention of cheating and misappropriation of funds of Saradha group of companies.
The agency alleged that Manoranjana Sinh, the estranged wife of former Union minister Matang Sinh, introduced Sen to Nalini to manage probes by various agencies like SEBI, ROC against him, for which she allegedly received Rs 1.4 crore during 2010-12 through his companies.
(With PTI inputs)
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jan 12, 2019 06:15 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).