Delhi Court sents P Chidambaram to judicial custody till Nov 13, denies ED to question him

New Delhi : Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram was on Wednesday sent back to Tihar jail till November 13 in the INX Media money laundering case by a Delhi court which said sufficient time has been given to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for his interrogation.

Dismissing the agency's plea seeking one day custodial interrogation of Chidambaram, special judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar said 15-day custody under the law is not a "ritualistic formality".

"I think sufficient time has been given for the custodial interrogation of the accused. No doubt the interrogation is the prerogative of the investigating officer but at the same time the provision for 15 days police/ED custody is not a ritualistic formality which is to be completed in all the cases necessarily sans justification," the judge said.

The court directed the Tihar Jail authority to provide adequate security to the senior Congress leader, considering that he is a protected person. "He may be allowed to carry his prescribed medicines.

It shall be ensured that the accused is medically examined for his illness at the jail hospital and if required, in any multidisciplinary hospital like RML Hospital, Safdarjung or AIIMS Hospital. "The Superintendent, Central Jail, Tihar, Delhi shall provide the facility of western toilet to the accused (Chidambaram), specially home food considering his medical record and ailments.