The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed a petition in the Delhi High Court on Tuesday, appealing a decision allowing the accused to inspect papers in the INX Media case involving former Union Minister P Chidambaram, his son Karti, and others [CBI v. M/s INX Media Pvt. Ltd. & Ors].
The order of a Special CBI Court on March 5 that permitted the accused to see the papers obtained during the inquiry was overturned by Justice Mukta Gupta in a plea filed by the CBI. On August 27 of this year, the court reserved its decision.
The Special Court ruled that the CBI must submit or produce all papers collected or statements recorded throughout the course of the inquiry in order to facilitate a fair trial for the accused and that the accused are also entitled to copies of such documents.
The CBI challenged the case on the grounds that it included “high levels of corruption” with “reaching consequences” on society. While the accused defendants had a right to a fair trial, the CBI argued that the general interest of society could not be jeopardized.
The CBI’s charge sheet against P Chidambaram, his son Karti Chidambaram, and others in the INX Media case was taken into consideration by a Special CBI Court on October 21, 2019. According to the CBI, Chidambaram abused his official position by approving INX Media and INX News Pvt Ltd in exchange for unlawful payoff through the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB). The accused are facing charges under sections 120-B, 420, 468, and 471 of the Indian Penal Code, as well as Sections 9, 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. On May 15, 2017, the CBI filed an FIR in the matter.
Following preliminary statements in the CBI’s plea against the disclosure of all papers to the accused, Justice Suresh Kait delayed further trial court proceedings in the case in May of this year. The CBI was represented by lawyer Anupam S Sharma. The respondents were represented by senior lawyers Sidharth Luthra, Pramod Kumar Dubey, and Sidharth Aggarwal.
