New Delhi, August 29: Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram's plea seeking protection from arrest in INX Media Money Laundering Case investigated by ED (Enforcement Directorate) will be heard by the Supreme Court on September 5. The interim protection to the former Union Minister in the ED case has also been extended till September 5 as the apex court reserved its judgment for Wednesday, September 5. On Thursday, the Supreme Court heard Chidambaram's plea and reserved its judgment. P Chidambaram Arrested by CBI in INX Media Scam Case: Here's All That Happened Before the Dramatic Arrest.

Former finance minister P Chidambaram had also challenged the Delhi High Court's rejection of his anticipatory bail plea in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court also reserved for September 2, the petition of Congress leader P Chidambaram challenging the August 22 order of the trial court remanding him to CBI's custody in the INX Media case after his arrest by the CBI. P Chidambaram's Anticipatory Bail Plea in INX Media Case Rejected by Delhi High Court, Former Finance Minister Likely to Approach Supreme Court.

Earlier in the day, the ED told the Supreme Court that custodial interrogation of Chidambaram in the INX media case is required as if his plea for anticipatory bail is given it would affect cases involving Vijay Mallya, Mehul Choksi, Neerav Modi and Zakir Naik, reported ANI.

"Money laundering is an offence against society, nation and economy. Economic offences are gravest offences irrespective of quantum of sentence,” Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for the CBI told a Bench of Justice R Banumathi and Justice AS Bopanna. Chidambaram's lawyers, Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi, replied saying that Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) offences with seven years of punishment is not a grave offence because as per the Code of Criminal Procedure grave offences entail death penalty and life, Mehta said money laundering offences are “grave”.

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Former Finance Minister and senior Congress leader P Chidambaram's anticipatory bail plea was rejected by the Delhi High Court on August 20. The bail was denied to Chidambaram in both the ED and CBI case registered against him. The case against Chidambaram goes back to 2017, when the CBI registered an FIR on May 15, 2019 against the Congress leader for alleged irregularities related to FIPB clearance to INX Media. Whereas, the ED registered a case of money laundering against Chidambaram in 2018.

Hours after the rejection of his anticipatory bail, a CBI team stayed put outside his Jor Bagh residence in New Delhi. Chidambaram remained untraceable even as his lawyers and party members Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi knocked Supreme Court's doors. The Supreme Court posted the case for hearing on August 22. But in a dramatic turn of events, P Chidambaram appeared in Congress' headquarters, spoke to press and headed to his Jor Bagh residence. The CBI officers scaled the wall of his house and arrested P Chidambaram. Since then, he is in CBI's custody in the INX media case.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 29, 2019 06:05 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).