Chidambaram to stay in jail till October 3

New Delhi: Former finance minister P Chidambaram's judicial custody has been extended till October 3. Chidambaram was produced in a Delhi court today on the expiry of his 14-day judicial custody in connection with the INX Media corruption case.

The CBI had sought extension of the veteran Congress leader's judicial remand before Special judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Chidambaram, opposed the investigative agency's plea to extend his judicial custody. Sibal moved an application on behalf of Chidambaram seeking regular medical checkup and adequate supplementary diet during judicial custody in Tihar Jail.

He said that the 73-year old Congress leader is suffering from various ailments and has lost weight during the custody, to which he was sent on September 5.

Chidambaram told the Court that he had neither a chair nor a pillow at the Tihar prison, where he has been jailed since September 5. The 74-year-old had "developed back pain" because of that, his lawyers said.

"There were chairs outside the room, I used to sit there during the day, now that too is withdrawn. Because I was using it, they have taken it away, now even the warden is without a chair," Chidambaram said.

"He had a chair till three days ago. Now there is no chair and no pillow either," said Mr Singhvi. The government said it was a "small issue" and there had been no chair in the cell in the first place.