SC rejects Chidambaram's anticipatory bail plea in ED case

In a huge setback to former Union minister P. Chidambaram, the Supreme Court on Thursday rejected his anticipatory bail plea seeking protection from arrest by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the INX Media money laundering case. However, the bench, comprising justices R. Banumathi and A.S. Bopanna, said Chidambaram was free to apply for regular bail. 

Considering the facts and circumstances, the case is not fit for grant of anticipatory bail, the apex court said. "Anticipatory cannot be granted as a matter of right. It is to be exercised sparingly in the cases of economic offences which constitute a class apart," the court noted. It further reasoned that the grant of anticipatory bail at initial stages of the case may frustrate the ongoing investigation. 

The hearing in the case concluded on August 29 and the order was reserved for Thursday. The court said that the ED has produced the materials (evidences) collected by it in a sealed cover. "We have consciously refrained from perusing it," Bar and Bench cited the court as saying. "Investigating agency would be exposing the evidence by producing it before the accused first," the court added.