New Delhi, August 26: In a minor relief to former Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram, the Supreme Court on Monday extended protection granted to him from arrest till tomorrow in the INX Media money laundering case being probed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Appearing for Chidambaram, senior advocate and Congress leader Kapil Sibal alleged that ED's note was "copy-pasted" by the Delhi High Court.

On August 23, the apex court granted interim protection from arrest to Chidambaram, observing that his son Karti Chidambaram, who is co-accused in the case and others were out on bail. Today, Sibal told the apex court that the High Court had simply accepted documents handed by the ED and, clubbing them with the CBI case, denied Chidambaram protection from arrest. Chidambaram Gets No Relief in INX Media Case, Supreme Court Dismisses Former FM's Plea For Bail.

"Paragraphs in the High Court judgement were a verbatim copy of the CBI/ Enforcement Directorate note, comma by comma, full stop by full stop, word by word, sentence by sentence, the chart. Their note becomes findings of the court. Where is the application of mind by the judge?" the senior advocate said. Chidambaram Taken to Same CBI Headquarters That He Had Inaugurated in 2011, Watch Video.

In its affidavit in the Supreme Court, the ED has alleged that Chidambaram, along with his "close confidants and co-conspirators (names withheld by the agency) created a web of shell companies in India and abroad for laundering proceeds of crime".

Earlier today, the Supreme Court rejected Chidambaram's plea challenging the Delhi High Court's order dismissing his anticipatory bail in a CBI case, saying it has become "infructuous".

The Delhi High Court had on August 20 rejected Chidambaram's anticipatory bail plea in the INX media case. On August 21, he moved the Supreme Court and challenged Delhi High Court order but could not get an urgent hearing on the plea. Chidambaram was arrested on August 21 and presented before a trial court, which remanded him to CBI custody till August 26.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 26, 2019 04:31 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).