SC to consider ED's plea against Karti on March 15

The Supreme Court will consider on March 15 a plea by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against the Delhi High Court's order that granted interim protection to Karti Chidambaram, son of former Union minister and Congress leader P Chidambaram, in a money laundering case related to the INX Media.

A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud agreed to put the matter for urgent consideration on a request made by the ED.

Advocate Rajat Nair, appearing for the probe agency, mentioned the ED's appeal.

On March 9, the Delhi High Court gave Karti a breather in the money laundering case and restrained the ED from arresting him till March 20.

A CBI court had on Monday sent Karti to judicial custody till March 24. The court then refused his plea for urgent hearing on his bail plea which was already listed for March 15.

The high court order meant that he cannot be arrested by the ED if the CBI court grants him bail on March 15.

Karti has approached the high court to strike down the powers of arrest of the ED under Section 19 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) as unconstitutional and in violation of Article 14 and 21 of the Constitution, which deal with the rights of people for equality before law and protection of personal liberty.

The plea sought quashing of the enforcement case information report (ECIR) and probe by the ED for offences under the PMLA.

It sought quashing of the probe by the ED, alleging that it was contrary to the procedure established by law and violates Karti Chidambaram's fundamental rights.