NEW DELHI, Oct 16 - The Enforcement Directorate arrested former finance minister P Chidambaram in Tihar Jail today in connection with its probe in the INX Media money laundering case as it now prepares to put him through extensive grilling sessions, officials said.
A court here on Tuesday had allowed the investigating agency to interrogate the senior Congress leader, lodged in the jail in the CBI case, and arrest him, if necessary, in this case.�
A three-member team of investigators of the Central agency who arrived at the prison at 8:15 am remained in the premises for about two hours during which they briefly questioned 74-year-old Chidambaram after which he was placed under arrest.�
The arrest has been made under the provision of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and his statement was also recorded under this same provision, they said.�
The ED subsequently sought 14-day custodial interrogation of the former Union minister from a court here.
The Congress MP has been grilled by the ED in this case many times in the past but it had never arrested him as he enjoyed a court-issued order of directing the agency not to take coercive step like arrest against him.
Sources indicated that Chidambaram will now be put through some fresh evidence, obtained from offshore jurisdictions, and confronted with the statement of other accused in the case once his full-time questioning begins, after the grant of custody.
Statements given by the accountant of his son Karti and those of others will be put across to him.
It is understood that the ED investigating officer will seek answers from him regarding certain foreign-based assets linked to the Chidambaram family including those attached by it in the name of Karti.
Last year in October, it had attached assets worth Rs 54 crore of Karti Chidambaram, in India, the UK and Spain, under the PMLA.
The agency is also working to file its first charge sheet or prosecution compliant in the case and it may include Chidambaram�s forthcoming statements too. � PTI
