Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi (SR)
New Delhi, Aug 21: Senior Congress leader and ex-finance minister P Chidambaram was arrested from his residence shortly after he held a press conference in the AICC head quarters in Delhi. He left the Congress head quarters before the CBI could reach there. The CBI, the ED and the local police reached the residence of P Chidambaram and the CBI took him in custody.
Earlier in the day his appeal for urgent hearing by the Supreme Court was rejected and his case was scheduled for hearing on Friday.
In the press conference held at AICC head quarters Chidambaram told the reporters, "I was aghast that I was accused of hiding from the law while I was seeking protection from the law. I was told by my lawyers that despite their impassioned appeals, the hearing has been scheduled for Friday,"
"I spent last night preparing my papers. I was not running away from justice, but was engaged in pursuit of justice. I believe that the foundation of a democracy is liberty; most precious article of the Constitution is Article 21 that guarantees life and liberty. If I'm asked to choose between life and liberty, I will choose liberty," he added.
"Even FIR recorded by CBI does not accuse me of any wrongdoing. I have not been accused of any offence, nor anyone else including any member of my family," Chidambaram said while addressing media.
Chidambaram is expected to be grilled for hours tonight at the CBI headquarters. He will be produced in CBI court tomorrow.
Congress Spokesperson Randeep Surjewala says democracy stands dead in the hands of the BJP. "The shameless witch-hunt & unheard of abuse of CBI/ED by Modi Govt 2.0 is playing on every TV screen in India. It’s a sham and shame that democracy stands dead in the hands of the BJP," he Tweeted.