New Delhi: Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday told the Supreme Court that P Chidambaram’s mere presence “evokes fear” in witnesses. The ED has opposed the bail plea of Chidambaram in the INX Media money laundering case.
Mehta told a three-judge bench headed by Justice R. Banumathi that whether in custody or not, former Finance Minister Chidambaram is powerful enough to wield influence on witnesses involved in the case. “One of the witnesses has written a letter, and the other two have requested, please do not bring us face to face with him....in fact, his presence may influence the prosecution,” Mehta contended before the court.
Citing the gravity of the economic offenses, Mehta told the court that the entire world is facing the menace of money laundering.
Mehta told the bench, also comprising Justices A.S. Bopanna and Hrishikesh Roy, that the ED probe has uncovered 12 bank accounts where proceeds of crime were deposited and the agency has also gathered the details of 12 properties, with specific addresses, which have been together tracked down in 16 countries.
Chidambaram has moved the apex court challenging the Delhi High Court judgment denying him bail in the case. Mehta told the apex court that economic offense is a separate class of offense graver than murder, and it is a white-collar crime, which has the potential to shake the faith of the common man in the establishment.
Mehta also emphasized that Chidambaram’s son Karti Chidambaram is yet to be arrested in the ED case.
The ED insisted that after investigations in the INX Media case, it is turning out that more FIPB approvals were given by Chidambaram while he was Finance Minister.. (IANS)