Karti Chidambaram gets bail, told to give Rs 10-lakh surety

Twenty-three days after his arrest in the INX Media case, former finance minister P Chidambaram's son Karti was granted bail by the Delhi High Court on Friday but was asked to make himself available for CBI "as and when required".

Justice S P Garg directed him to furnish a surety of Rs 10 lakh and imposed additional conditions, including that he will seek prior permission of the CBI if he wants to leave the country. Karti is accused of taking financial benefits from the then INX Media promoters to facilitate government approval for foreign direct investment in their firm.

"There appears no possibility of the petitioner to flee from justice. His parents are senior advocates; he has family to take care of; he has roots in the society and is not a previous convict," the order said.

The court also ordered Karti, who was arrested from Chennai airport on February 28 on his arrival from the United Kingdom, not to close any of his bank accounts in India or abroad without prior intimation to the CBI. The bail conditions also include that he should not change the entity or composition of any business concerns with which he is associated.

"In case of change of residential address or change in mobile number, CBI shall be duly informed beforehand. The petitioner shall not contact the prosecution witnesses, shall not temper with evidence, shall not criminally intimidate any witness in any manner," the order said.

The court said the "incriminating circumstance" alone was "not sufficient" at this stage to deny bail.