oppn parties Chidambaram Granted Bail: The Supreme Reaffirms That Bail, Not Jail, Is The Rule

Story Of The Day

Assessee Not Responsible For Ensuring TDS Is Paid To The Government: Delhi HC
OPINIONS : Strongly Expressed

December 21, 2024

People Are Talking About

Rohit Warns Sarfaraz, Police Use It To Warn Two-Wheeler Riders

News Snippets

  • The Indian envoy in Bangladesh was summoned by the country's government over the breach in the Bangladesh mission in Agartala
  • Bank account to soon have 4 nominees each
  • TMC and SP stayed away from the INDIA bloc protest over the Adani issue in the Lok Sabha
  • Delhi HC stops the police from arresting Nadeem Khan over a viral video which the police claimed promoted 'enmity'. Court says 'India's harmony not so fragile'
  • Trafiksol asked to refund IPO money by Sebi on account of alleged fraud
  • Re goes down to 84.76 against the USD but ends flat after RBI intervenes
  • Sin goods like tobacco, cigarettes and soft drinks likely to face 35% GST in the post-compensation cess era
  • Bank credit growth slows to 11% (20.6% last year) with retail oans also showing a slowdown
  • Stock markets continue their winning streak on Tuesday: Sensex jumps 597 points to 80845 and Nifty gains 181 points to 24457
  • Asian junior hockey: Defending champions India enter the finals by beating Malaysia 3-1, to play Pakistan for the title
  • Chess World title match: Ding Liren salvages a sraw in the 7th game which he almost lost
  • Experts speculate whether Ding Liren wants the world title match against D Gukesh to go into tie-break after he let off Gukesh easily in the 5th game
  • Tata Memorial Hospital and AIIMS have severely criticized former cricketer and Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu for claiming that his wife fought back cancer with home remedies like haldi, garlic and neem. The hospitals warned the public for not going for such unproven remedies and not delaying treatment as it could prove fatal
  • 3 persons died and scores of policemen wer injured when a survey of a mosque in Sambhal near Bareilly in UP turned violent
  • Bangladesh to review power pacts with Indian companies, including those of the Adani group
D Gukesh is the new chess world champion at 18, the first teen to wear the crown. Capitalizes on an error by Ding Liren to snatch the crown by winning the final game g
oppn parties
Chidambaram Granted Bail: The Supreme Reaffirms That Bail, Not Jail, Is The Rule

By Sunil Garodia
First publised on 2019-12-04 13:17:35

About the Author

Sunil Garodia Editor-in-Chief of indiacommentary.com. Current Affairs analyst and political commentator.

The Supreme Court has finally granted bail to former Finance Minister P Chidambaram in the INX Media case. The court was of the view that although economic offences come under the purview of grave crimes since bail, not jail is the rule, it cannot be denied just on the presumption that the alleged wrongdoer, being an influential person, was in a position to influence witnesses and tamper with evidence. The court granted him bail against personal bond and sureties and imposed the usual restrictions.

The bench headed by Justice R Bhanumati took a personal bond of Rs 2 lakhs and two sureties of an equal amount. It also put the usual restrictions on foreign travel for which Chidambaram would have to take the court’s permission. It also warned him not to tamper with evidence or influence witnesses. It needs reminding that Chidambaram spent 106 days in jail as the ED argued that he had committed grave offences and misused his office and was likely to tamper with evidence and influence witnesses as he still wielded a lot of influence in the corridors of power given past positions held by him. The Delhi High Court had earlier refused to grant him bail.

In this respect, it needs to be said that the Delhi High Court should have taken the same line as now taken by the apex court. Chidambaram should have been granted bail then. The ED, apart from showing circumstantial evidence and properties that are allegedly held benami by the Chidambaram family, was not able to directly link the wrongdoings to Chidambaram. Hence, it is wrong to hold a person in captivity just on assumption of guilt or on the excuse that he might tamper with evidence or influence witnesses. In any case, if Chidambaram is found to do anything like that, the ED can lodge a complaint, obtain a warrant and arrest him again.

Other Stories You Make Like

Editorials

Turmoil In Mollywood

Turmoil In Mollywood

NDA 3.0: Coalition Dharma

NDA 3.0: Coalition Dharma

In Depth

Supreme Court Gets Strict On Child Pornography

Supreme Court Gets Strict On Child Pornography

Editor's Pick

Budapest Chess Olympiad: India Are World Team Champions

Budapest Chess Olympiad: India Are World Team Champions
© 2014 India Commentary. All rights reserved.