The Patiala House Court in Delhi today extended CBI custody of Karti Chidamabaram, son of former Finance Minister P Chidamabaram, by another three days in the INX Media case. Karti will now have to be produced in court on March 9.
During the hearing, Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who is representing the Central Bureau of Investigation in the matter, sought a nine-day extension. The ASG said the investigative agency wants to interrogate Karti further, adding that he has not been cooperating in the probe so far.
The CBI counsel submitted a sealed envelope which he said contained relevant material related to the case, the details of which could not be divulged. The agency informed the court that the probe has been making progress with new material and evidence in its possession.
Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who is representing Karti Chidambaram, said the CBI's charge that Karti is not cooperating in the probe incorrect. Citing the doctrine of right against self incrimination, Singhvi said that refusal to answer questions cannot be termed as non-cooperation.
In the last hearing, they [CBI] said that they needed custody to confront him with other witnesses. That confrontation lasted all but 25 minutes.Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Senior Advocate
āOnly two summons have been issued and Karti has gone for questioning on both occasions. The last summon was issued around six months back. How can you say he is not cooperating when no summon has been issued in the last six months,ā Singhvi argued.
Also Read: INX Media Case: CBI Takes Karti to Mumbai for Further Questioning
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