Delhi High Court Stays Trial Court Proceedings In INX Media Case

The Delhi High Court bench of Justice Suresh Kumar Kait on Tuesday stayed the trial court proceedings in the CBI’s INX Media corruption case involving Congress leader P Chidambaram & his son Karti Chidambaram.

The Court while issuing notice on CBI’s plea challenging the trial court order dated March 5 passed by Special CBI Judge, MK Nagpal which directed supply of documents kept in malkhana to the accused has sought responses of Chidambaram & others. 

In the plea, the CBI argued that the Special Judge exceeded its jurisdiction in issuing directions to the CBI to file & produce before the Court all the documents collected by it during the course of investigation & also observed that the accused(s) were entitled to copies of such documents irrespective of the fact that whether they are being relied upon by CBI or not. 

Along with setting aside the order directing supply the documents to the accused/ their Counsel, CBI had also sought for setting aside the observations in the impugned order as per which the CBI was required to produce before the Court the documents collected by the CBI during the course of investigation of the case & accused being entitled to copies of such document or inspections thereof irrespective of the fact that whether the same were relied on by the petitioner CBI or not.

The case relates to registration of case by the CBI on May 15, 2017, alleging irregularities in a Foreign Investment Promotion Board clearance granted to INX Media group for receiving overseas funds of Rs 305 crore in 2007 during Chidambaram’s tenure as finance minister.