Snehal Upadhyay-
Published on: August 09, 2021, at 18:41 IST
The Delhi High Court on hearing the plea filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) challenging the Trial Court order allowing inspection of documents kept in ”Malkhana” (room keeping case properties) by the accused and their counsel has granted time to counsel representing the investigating agency to go through the decisions given by the Supreme Court on this issue.
The Single-Judge Bench of Justice Mukta Gupta said, “Issue has been settled by the Supreme Court. Directions have been given to States to frame laws on deficiencies in criminal trial.”
The Court has ordered that the Interim order shall continue.
The Court had put a stay on the trial proceeding which was initiated against Chidambaram and his son Karti.
The Court has issued a notice and has asked Chidambaram and others on the CBI”s plea for their response.
The CBI has put away the order given by the special judge which directed the CBI to permit inspection of documents kept in Malkhana by their counsel.
The CBI has contended in its plea that the case involves a High-level corruption with a wide consequence on the society and with respect to the accused’s right to have a free trial, the collective interest of the society cannot be hampered.
Seeking to set aside the Trial Court’s order, the agency has said the legitimate aim would suffer irreparably if protection is not given to the documents and record which was permitted to be inspected by the accused.
The Court will further hear this matter on August 27.
The CBI registered this case on 15 May 2017 making allegations on irregularities found in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance granted to INX Media group for receiving overseas funds of Rs 305 crore in 2007 during Chidambaram”s tenure as finance minister.
After that, the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) also filed a money laundering case.
Chidambaram was arrested on August 21, 2019. He was arrested by the CBI in the INX Media corruption case.
Respectively, the ED also arrested him on 16 October following a separate money-laundering case.
Also Read: INX MEDIA CASE- INSIGHT