Chidambaram is being hounded, Modi govt using probe agencies for vendetta, says Congress

Hours after India’s premier probe agency CBI, in full media glare reached former Home Minister P Chidambaram’s house to arrest him in alleged INX money laundering case, Congress attacked Modi government for resorting to “vendetta politics”.

Accusing Modi government for attacking Opposition leaders, senior Congress leader Anand Sharma questioned the actions of probe agencies against Chidambaram soon after his anticipatory bail plea was rejected by the Delhi High Court, and asked what was the tearing hurry when the Supreme Court was slated to hear his appeal on Wednesday morning.

“We fail to understand what is going to happen in the night. Heavens are not going to open up. Chidambaram is an eminent person and a law-abiding citizen. What we have been witnessing in the last few years is selective targeting and politics of vendetta, mainly against the leaders of the opposition,” said Sharma while talking to media outside his house in Delhi.

He said it is not the Congress leaders alone, as leaders of various non-BJP parties like the Trinamool Congress, RJD, SP, DMK and some others have been targeted.

“Chidambaram has been cooperating and joining the investigation as and when he was required. There has not been an occasion when he has not presented himself, so why this tearing hurry tonight? The government and the agencies should also respect the Supreme Court, have faith and wait for the hearing,” he added.

Reacting to the development, head of the Congress media cell, Randeep Surjewala said that former union minister is being hounded.

“India witnesses worst kind of virulent vendetta by Modi Govt as the BJP runs a police state. Judge reserves judgement for 7 months and delivers it 72 hours before retirement, CBI/ED are sent to raid a respected former FM’s house.Banana Republic?” he wrote on Twitter.

Hours after his bail was denied by the Delhi HC, Chidambaram had approached the apex court for anticipatory bail. Sharma said, “It is his right. The plea for bail has already been moved and an SLP has also been filed before the Supreme Court.”

Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi said there was no cause for Chidambaram to abscond as he has been appearing for every summon issued to him by the probe agencies and cooperating.

Hours after the Delhi High Court refused to grant any protection from arrest to Chidambaram, a team of CBI officers landed at his posh Jor Bagh residence to locate him on Tuesday.

However, agency could not find the former union minister there, officials said.

While refusing to grant the protection, the Delhi High Court on Tuesday said he seems to be the “kingpin” and “key conspirator” in the INX media case of money laundering and he needs to be interrogated in custody for the investigation to be effective.

Holding that the INX media scam was a “classic case of money laundering”, the court also said the twin facts which have weighed to deny pre-arrest bail to Chidambaram are “gravity” of the offence and “evasive” replies given by him to questions put to him while he was under protective cover extended to him by the court.