INX Media case: CBI gets five-day custody of Peter Mukherjea

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Monday remanded former media baron Peter Mukerjea in five days custody for his alleged connection in the INX Media case.

Mukerjea was produced before a Delhi court earlier in the day.

Mukerjea-owned INX Media Ltd had allegedly paid bribes to get a Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) approval which was facilitated by former finance minister P. Chidambaram’s son Karti Chidambaram.

However, on Friday, the Delhi High Court granted bail to Karti in connection with the case, on a surety of Rs 10 lakh.

Earlier, the CBI identified a senior journalist who introduced then INX media owner Indrani Mukerjea to P Chidambaram for Foreign Investment Promotion Board and also to question him. Sources said he works in a leading newspaper and for a brief period was associated with INX media but left after Mukerjea asked him to leave.

 Earlier, the Delhi HC granted a conditional bail to him in connection with the INX Media case filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Karti has been granted bail on a surety of Rs 10 lakh.

However, he cannot travel out of the country or cannot influence witnesses or close bank accounts.

On March 15, the Supreme Court gave interim protection to Karti from arrest in connection with the case. He now cannot be arrested until March 26 by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Karti is being investigated by the CBI and ED for his alleged role in the INX Media case.

Karti was arrested on his return from the UK at the Chennai airport on February 28 and later sent to the probe agency's custody.

Karti is accused of receiving kickbacks a decade back to clear foreign investment into INX Media group, using the influence of his father P. Chidambaram, who was then the Union finance minister.

In his plea, Karti claimed that he had never attempted to influence witnesses, tamper with documentary evidence, pollute or obstruct the judicial process as was alleged by the probe agency.

Earlier, he sought bail from the court alleging that the CBI was acting at the behest of the Centre to malign the reputation of his father during whose tenure Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance was granted to the INX Media group.

The CBI had lodged an FIR on May 15 last year alleging irregularities in the FIPB clearance to INX Media for receiving overseas funds to the tune of Rs 305 crore in 2007 when P Chidambaram was the Union finance minister.

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