The Supreme Court on August 23, 2019, granted interim protection from arrest to former Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram in the money laundering case registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the INX Media case.

A Bench comprising of Justices R. Banumathi and A.S. Bopanna granted the interim protection till August 26, 2019, the next date of hearing in the case.

The Bench hearing the matter, however, did not intervene in the CBI case in which he has been sent for custodial interrogation of the agency till August 26, 2019. This means that Chidambaram will continue to be in custody.

The courtroom hearing witnessed exchange of words between prosecution counsel and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and senior advocate and Chidambaram’s party colleagues Kapil Sibal and A.M. Singhvi.

In the INX Media case, the ED has registered a case against Chidambaram under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002. Whereas, the CBI has arrested Chidambaram in the case registered for offence under Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and Indian Penal Code, 1860, in respect of INX FDI transaction.