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Justice Mukta Gupta of the Delhi High Court dismissed the plea filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) challenging an order permitting the inspection of documents by the accused in the INX Media case involving former Union Minister P Chidambaram, his son Karti and others.

The agency had registered its case on May 15, 2017, alleging irregularities in a Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance granted to INX Media group for receiving overseas funds of Rs 305 crore in 2007 during Chidambaram’s tenure as finance minister. Thereafter, the ED had lodged the money laundering case. 

A Special CBI Court had taken cognizance of the CBI's chargesheet against P Chidambaram, his son Karti Chidambaram and others in the INX Media case, on October 21, 2019. On the matter of inspection of documents collected by CBI the special court in the order dated March 5 had said, to ensure a fair trial only if the accused persons are permitted to inspect the documents. “To find out if any of such document is relevant or vital for their defence or is of a sterling quality to demolish the very case of prosecution,” the Court had stated.

CBI challenged the special court order on the ground the INX Media case involved high level of corruption with wide ramifications on society, and while the accused have a right to a fair trial, the collective interest of society could not be impinged.

Cause Title: CBI v. M/s INX Media Pvt. Ltd. & Ors