India News

Arrested last night, Chidambaram to be in CBI custody till August 26

Published

7 years ago

August 22, 2019

Arrested last night, Chidambaram to be in CBI custody till August 26

A Delhi Special Court today, Thursday Aug 22, remanded Congress leader and former Union Minister P Chidambaram to CBI custody for four days – till August 26 – in connection with charges of corruption in the INX Media case.

The special judge said that Chidambaram will be allowed to meet his family everyday and shall also be medically examined from time to time.

Meanwhile, ANI reported that Supreme Court would hear P Chidambaram’s petition against the Enforcement Directorate on August 27, whereas his petition against the CBI would be heard tomorrow.

Arrested amid high drama last night, P Chidambaram was produced before Special Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar in Rouse Avenue earlier today.

The CBI had sought five days of custody, saying he was not cooperating in the investigation.

Chidambaram was produced before the Rouse Avenue Court in New Delhi where Special Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar heard the arguments.

The CBI told the court that Chidambaram’s custodial interrogation was necessary to unearth larger conspiracy in the INX Media case. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court that grave offence was committed, and custodial interrogation was required to get answer of certain questions for effective probe.

The CBI told the court that the INX Media scam was a serious and monumental case of money laundering.

Chidambaram’s family members, including his wife Nalini and son Karti, were also in the courtroom along with other senior advocates including Dayan Krishnan. Heavy security arrangement had been made outside the courtroom.

On the CBI’s claims of Chidambaram being evasive in the investigation pertaining to the INX Media case, the former union minister said in court: “Please look at the questions and answers, there are no questions which I have not answered, please read the transcript. They asked if I have a bank account abroad, I said no, they asked if my son has an account abroad I said yes.”

His lawyer Kapil Sibal said Chidambaram was arrested last night, but interrogated only at 11 AM on Thursday. He argued that of the 12 questions put to the accused (Chidambaram), six were asked long back in June 2018.

Sibal said that the first arrest in the case was of Bhaskar Raman, chartered accountant of Karti, currently out on bail. Besides that, Peter and Indrani Mukherjea, also accused in the case, are also out on default bail as they are in jail in connection with another matter, he added.

The senior advocate contended that the grant of bail was a rule and the issue before the court was of personal liberty.

Sibal also told the court that Chidambaram never skipped interrogation. He argued that the former minister was summoned for questioning only on one occasion and he complied. “How can he be accused of non-cooperation,” Sibal said.

“Investigation complete as draft chargesheet is ready. Sanction was sought. The FIPB approval is given by six government secretaries, none have been arrested. This is a case of documentary evidence. He (Chidambaram) has never skipped interrogation,” ANI quoted Sibal as saying.

Abhishek Manu Singhvi, also appearing for Mr. Chidambaram pointed out that the CBI did not take any action for the past 11-12 months. “Chidambaram has given only those replies to the CBI which he had, but not according to the wishes of the agency. It is terming this as non-cooperation by him,” he argued.

“This case is completely based on a case diary and a statement of another accused,” Singhvi said. Chidambaram, he said, was first called in June 2018, months after Indrani Mukerjea recorded her statement.

Indrani Mukerjea is the wife of former media baron Peter Mukerjea and the couple owned INX media, the television company at the heart of the dispute. She and her husband have accused P Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram’s of involvement in providing clearance of the foreign funds.

“For the last one year, no summons but now they (the CBI) want custody. Indrani has turned approver now based on her 2018 statement. To create a reason for custody of my client, she has been made approver stating new facts have emerged. Is approver an evidence? Can that be the basis for his arrest and now custody,” he said.

CBI’s argument

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, contesting the contention of defence lawyers, said all are equal before the law and Chidambaram’s son, Karti, was also taken into custody earlier.

“Chidambaram has tremendous potential of not cooperating in probe since he is highly intelligent,” Mehta said. “Certain facts about the case cannot be narrated in open court,” he said as defence counsel claimed there was no new development in the case.

Mehta said “there is a reasonable ground for Chidambaram’s custody as he was evasive in his replies and chose to remain silent during the interrogation by the agency.” “This is a serious case, involving intelligent people like him (Chidambaram),” he said adding that if the custody is not given, the prosecuting agency will fail in its duty to reach at the root of the conspiracy.

Last year, in April, Chidambaram’s son and a co-accused in the INX Media case Karti Chidambaram spent 23 days in CBI and judicial custody.

CBI filed an FIR in May 2017 over alleged irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance to INX Media for receiving overseas funds of Rs 305 crore in 2007, when Chidambaram was finance minister during the first term of Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government. Thereafter, the ED lodged a money laundering case in this regard in 2018.

Chidambaram, whom the CBI and ED were hunting for after the Delhi High Court rejected his anticipatory bail plea, was arrested last night 90 minutes after he made a surprise appearance at a Congress press conference. All day, his lawyers and Congress colleagues Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Manu Singhvi had tried without luck to get the Supreme Court to urgently hear his petition for interim protection from arrest. The court decided to take up the petition on Friday.

After the press conference, Chidambaram then to his home with Sibal and Singhvi, where CBI teams had made two visits already.

On his trail, the CBI first went to the Congress office and then to his home. Finding the gates to the building shut, CBI officials climbed a wall to gain access and then drove their car in.

Chaos erupted between CBI, police and Enforcement Directorate teams, the media contingent and a group of slogan-shouting Congress workers. Finally, Chidambaram was arrested amid the ruckus and driven to the CBI headquarters.

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Related Topics:CBI Inx Media Case P Chidambaram

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Air India sacks Phuket-Delhi flight pilot after failing drug test

Air India has terminated the Phuket-Delhi flight pilot after a confirmatory test found a psychoactive substance following the August 4 incident.

Published

18 mins ago

September 4, 2026

APNLive Desk

Air India has terminated the employment of the pilot-in-command of a Phuket-Delhi flight after he tested positive for a psychoactive substance.

The pilot was in command of flight AI2379, which was travelling from Phuket to Delhi on August 4 when the aircraft suddenly lost altitude over Odisha. The incident left 24 passengers injured.

Air India said the termination was in line with its zero-tolerance policy regarding safety violations and regulatory requirements.

Air India terminates pilot with immediate effect

In a statement, the Tata-owned airline said the pilot-in-command had tested positive for a psychoactive substance.

The airline said that, considering its zero-tolerance approach to violations related to safety, fitness and regulatory requirements, the pilot’s employment had been terminated with immediate effect.

Air India also said it continues to cooperate fully with the investigation into the incident and has provided access to relevant operational, maintenance and technical records.

What happened on the Phuket-Delhi flight?

According to the preliminary findings of the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), the Airbus A320 was carrying 145 people when it experienced the near-simultaneous loss of all three hydraulic systems while cruising at around 36,000 feet.

The technical failure resulted in the autopilot disconnecting and triggered a brief stall warning. The aircraft subsequently lost altitude, resulting in injuries to 24 passengers.

The preliminary report also noted that the pilot tested non-negative for a psychoactive substance in a confirmatory test.

However, the report did not establish that the pilot’s drug-test result caused or contributed to the hydraulic system failure or the subsequent loss of altitude.

AAIB recommends action over psychoactive substance finding

The AAIB described the confirmation of psychoactive substance use as a serious concern and recommended that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) take appropriate action against the pilot on priority.

The investigation into the technical and other aspects of the incident is still underway.

The preliminary report also noted that the co-pilot was flying the aircraft when the incident occurred and attempted to bring the situation under control.

Air India said safety remains its highest priority and that its pilots undergo training, proficiency checks, medical examinations and other regulatory assessments in accordance with applicable requirements.

India News

India offers forensic DNA support to identify Nepal flood victims

India will make forensic laboratory facilities available for DNA profiling of first-degree relatives of people missing after Nepal’s August 26 flash floods.

Published

5 hours ago

September 4, 2026

APNLive Desk

India has offered forensic laboratory support to help identify people who remain missing after the devastating flash floods in Nepal.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said central and state forensic laboratories in India will make their DNA profiling facilities available for first-degree biological relatives of people missing after the August 26 flash floods in Nepal.

DNA samples can be provided by relatives in India

According to the MEA, first-degree biological relatives living in India can have their biological samples collected and DNA profiles prepared.

The relatives can include a person’s father, mother, son, daughter or sibling. DNA profiling can be carried out at Central Forensic Science Laboratories (CFSLs), State Forensic Science Laboratories (SFSLs), laboratories of the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), and NABL-accredited laboratories with DNA profiling capabilities.

The initiative is intended to support Nepal’s ongoing process of identifying mortal remains recovered after the flash floods.

DNA profiles to be compared with unidentified remains

The MEA said the DNA profiling may use Autosomal STR DNA profiling, as advised by Nepal Police, subject to the technical requirements communicated by the Nepali authorities.

Once prepared, DNA profiles and the preliminary information required by Nepalese authorities can be sent to Nepal Police by email for comparison with DNA profiles obtained from unidentified mortal remains.

The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu will also facilitate coordination, with copies of the DNA profiles to be shared with the embassy for this purpose.

Nepal flood death toll rises

The death toll from the flash floods has risen to at least 1,259, according to Nepalese authorities, after rescue workers recovered additional bodies from affected areas.

More than 12,000 people have been rescued, while around 5,000 people remain missing as search and rescue operations continue.

The flash floods, which followed an ice-rock avalanche near the Nepal-Tibet border, caused extensive destruction across towns and villages in northern and central Nepal.

India News

PM Modi hails ISRO after successful GSLV-F17 launch, calls it proud moment

PM Modi congratulated ISRO after GSLV-F17 successfully launched EOS-05, calling the achievement a proud moment for India.

Published

10 hours ago

September 4, 2026

APNLive Desk

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday congratulated the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) after the successful launch of the GSLV-F17 rocket carrying the EOS-05 Earth observation satellite, describing the achievement as a proud moment for the nation.

The GSLV-F17 lifted off at 2:55 a.m. IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh. The EOS-05 satellite was subsequently placed into its designated sub-geosynchronous transfer orbit.

PM Modi praises ISRO’s growing capabilities

In a post on X, PM Modi said the successful mission reflected the excellence, innovation and expanding capabilities of India’s space sector.

Yet another outstanding achievement by ISRO and a proud moment for our nation.

The successful launch of GSLV-F17 carrying EOS-05, India’s first-ever imaging satellite from Geosynchronous orbit is a reflection of the excellence, innovation and growing capabilities that define… https://t.co/fXzwnSmwAF
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) September 4, 2026

He also highlighted the growing partnership between ISRO and Indian industry, saying it was strengthening India’s space programme and expanding capabilities across the wider space ecosystem.

The prime minister described the successful launch of GSLV-F17 carrying EOS-05 as another outstanding achievement by ISRO and a matter of national pride.

EOS-05 strengthens earth observation capabilities

According to the report, EOS-05 is India’s first-ever imaging satellite from geosynchronous orbit. The satellite is designed to provide continuous observation of the country from an altitude of nearly 36,000 km above Earth.

The mission is expected to strengthen India’s earth observation capabilities and support advanced imaging and observation applications.

ISRO Chairman Dr V Narayanan expressed satisfaction with the mission, saying the satellite was precisely injected into its intended orbit.

Mission Director Thomas Kurian described the launch as a significant milestone for the GSLV programme. He said it was the 19th flight of the GSLV and noted that EOS-05 is the heaviest satellite the launch vehicle has placed into a geosynchronous transfer orbit or sub-GTO orbit.

GSLV-F17 launch vehicle details

The GSLV-F17 stands 51.7 metres tall and has an approximate liftoff mass of 420.5 tonnes.

Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh also congratulated the ISRO team following the successful mission. He described EOS-05 as a state-of-the-art Earth observation satellite capable of advanced imaging across visible, infrared, multispectral and hyperspectral bands.