P Chidambaram out of jail after 105 days, SC grants bail

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has granted bail to the former finance minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram on Wednesday. P Chidambaram was put behind the bars for his connection in the INX Media money laundering case that was registered by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

The top court said P Chidambaram should not tamper with the evidence or try to influence the witnesses while granting the bail. Further, he has been ordered not to give press interviews or make public statements in connection with the INX media case. P Chidambaram has been directed to furnish a bail bond of Rs 2 lakhs with 2 sureties of the same amount. The Congress leader is not allowed to travel abroad without the court's permission.

A bench of justices Hrishikesh Roy. R Banumathi and AS Bopanna heard the former minister's case. P Chidambaram has been in custody for 105 days since his dramatic arrest that was completely televised live by a team of Central Bureau of Investigation officers late on August 21.

He was first arrested by the CBI on August 21 this year in the INX Media corruption case. He was granted bail by the top court on October 22. The ED had arrested him on October 16 again in connection to the money laundering case.

The CBI was investigating Chidambaram in a case relating to alleged irregularities in Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance granted to the INX Media group for receiving overseas funds of Rs. 305 crore in 2007, during his tenure as the finance minister.