The Delhi High Court on Wednesday modified the bail conditions imposed on Congress leader Karti Chidambaram in the INX Media corruption case, allowing him greater flexibility to travel abroad.
Justice Ravinder Dudeja eased the earlier condition that required Karti to seek prior permission from the trial court before leaving India. Under the modified terms, he now only needs to give prior intimation to the trial court and the investigating agency at least two weeks before his planned travel.
The court directed him to share his complete travel itinerary and to continue attending proceedings before the trial court regularly. It also cautioned him against making any attempt to delay the trial.
“The Court finds merit in the application and allows it,” Justice Dudeja said while passing the order.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) opposed the plea, drawing parallels with fugitive businessman and former Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Mallya’s case. A trial court had in 2018 declared Mallya a proclaimed offender for evading summons in a FERA violation matter and had issued open-ended non-bailable warrants against him.
Karti’s counsel, however, argued that he was a sitting Member of Parliament and posed no flight risk. He was represented by senior advocate Sidharth Luthra along with advocates Arshdeep Singh and Akshat Gupta.
Karti was granted bail by the Delhi High Court in March 2018 in the INX Media corruption case. One of the key conditions was that he had to seek trial court permission before travelling abroad.
The CBI registered its case on May 15, 2017, alleging irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance granted to INX Media for receiving overseas funds of ₹305 crore in 2007, when his father P. Chidambaram was the Union Finance Minister. The Enforcement Directorate subsequently lodged a money laundering case.
