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News Topical,Digital Desk : Opposing the petition of former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram in the INX Media case, the CBI said that the trial court cannot be stopped from hearing arguments and framing charges against Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram.
Charges have not been laid yet
The investigating agency opposed Chidambaram's plea to suspend the proceedings before the trial court. CBI counsel told a bench of Justice Ravinder Dudeja that charges have not been framed yet and further investigation can continue.
During the hearing in the High Court, the CBI said, when P Chidambaram himself says that further investigation can continue, then how is this petition acceptable? The law says that of course arguments on the allegations can be heard and charges can be framed.
Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for Chidambaram, argued that till the CBI probe is pending, the trial court should neither hear arguments nor frame charges in the interest of a fair trial.
The investigation is not complete even after eight years
Luthra said that some material was hidden from the accused on the ground that the investigation was still going on and if other exculpatory evidence was found after framing of charges, the CBI's case would be over. He said that the CBI had registered the case on May 15, 2017. Even after eight years, the investigation has not been completed.
The CBI has alleged that there were irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approval granted to the INX Media group for receiving overseas funds of Rs 305 crore in 2007 during Chidambaram's tenure as finance minister.
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