P Chidambaram (Sonu Mehta/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)Former finance minister and veteran Congress leader P Chidambaram has withdrawn his petition in the Supreme Court which challenged him being kept in CBI custody, reports The Tribune. This comes after his anticipatory bail plea in the INX media case was denied by the court.
"This is not a fit case for grant of anticipatory bail. Investigating agency has to be given enough freedom to probe. Grant of anticipatory bail at this stage will hamper the investigation," the court had noted.
Chidambaram has already spent 15 days in CBI custody, and now may face detention by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The former minister also faces the prospect of being sent to the Tihar Jail if his regular bail plea now fails.
The INX media case involved alleged irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearances which were received by the INX group when Chidambaram had been the finance minister.
His son, Karti Chidambaram, is also under investigation for allegedly receiving kickbacks for helping the firm access foreign funds.
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