Attempt to Character Assassinate Chidambaram: Rahul on INX Case

Many in the Congress party claimed that Chidambaram is being targeted.

Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi took to Twitter to defend P Chidambaram, after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) issued a lookout notice against the former finance minister on Wednesday, 21 August.

Chidambaram has been in the eye of the storm ever since a case of his involvement in the INX Media scam was made. The Congress leader was denied anticipatory bail by the Delhi High Court, while the CBI showed up at his home with a summon late Tuesday night.

A Supreme Court bench on Wednesday said that Chidambaram's plea against the Delhi HC's order, cancelling his anticipatory bail plea would be put before CJI Ranjan Gogoi to consider for urgent listing.

‘Chidambaram Being Shamefully Hunted Down’: Priyanka Gandhi

In light of the events, many Congress leaders have claimed that Chidambaram is being targeted, while leaders from the BJP camp said he “had it coming”.

Priyanka Gandhi tweeted saying Chidambaram was “being shamefully hunted down”.

but the truth is inconvenient to cowards so he is being shamefully hunted down. We stand by him and will continue to fight for the truth no matter what the consequences are.
2/2

— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) August 21, 2019

Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi accused the Modi government of using the ED, CBI and sections of the media to ‘character assassinate Chidambaram’.

Modi's Govt is using the ED, CBI & sections of a spineless media to character assassinate Mr Chidambaram.

I strongly condemn this disgraceful misuse of power.

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 21, 2019

Well said @PChidambaram_IN ! It is a tribute to your strength of character that you are standing up to persecution &character assassination w/ courage & confidence. I believe justice will prevail in the end. Till then we will have to allow some malicious minds their schadenfreude https://t.co/OoERqVVKTQ

— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) August 21, 2019

Look out notice for P. Chidambaram ?
It sounds a bit too much.
Country’s scholarly politician, former Home minister and Finance minister being treated like a thief.
This is not good at all.

— Sanjay Nirupam (@sanjaynirupam) August 21, 2019

I condemn the action of CBI against Chidambaram in a case where he is not mentioned in the FIR nor is there any evidence against him. It is sheer Political Vendetta.

— digvijaya singh (@digvijaya_28) August 21, 2019

India witnesses worst kind of virulent vendetta by Modi Govt as the BJP runs a police state.

Judge reserves judgement for 7 months & delivers it 72 hours before retirement, CBI/ED are sent to raid as
a respected former FM is hounded.

Banana Republic?https://t.co/GpO5U00VUp

— Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) August 20, 2019

DMK chief MK Stalin has also accused the BJP government of pursuing political vendetta.

"Chidambaram is a legal expert. He will for sure face the case legally," he also said.

Chidambaram Behaving Like Mallya: BJP

BJP spokesperson GVL Narsimha Rao said Chidambaram, by not cooperating with the investigating agencies, is behaving like Vijay Mallya and Nirav Modi.

“Chidambaram was given a free-hand by the Gandhi family to go ahead in the INX Media case. By not cooperating with the central agencies, the senior Congress leader is behaving like Nirav Modi and Vijay Mallya. No one will be spared,” he said, speaking to the media.

Another BJP leader Subramanian Swamy took to Twitter, calling Chidambaram ‘crooked’.

Crooked Chidambaram on the run. CBI and ED searching for the corrupt former Finance and Home Minister https://t.co/I3jzDoIlXo via @PGurus1

— Subramanian Swamy (@Swamy39) August 21, 2019

Meanwhile, AIADMK has asked Chidambaram to "face" the INX Media money laundering case and not "run away".

"The court itself has said he is the kingpin (in the money laundering case)...any case has to be faced, there is no point running away," AIADMK leader D Jayakumar said.

BJP MP Tejasvi Surya commented on Chidambaram’s arrest on Twitter.

Howsoever mighty you may be, the law is above you. #PChidamabaramArrested

— Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) August 21, 2019

‘FIR Does Not Name Him as Accused in This Case’

Many citizens having varied opinions, have also taken to Twitter to express their thoughts on Chidambaram’s arrest by the CBI.

In the Aircel-Maxis the accusation is 26 Lakh.
In the INX case accusation is 10 Lakh. For an offence under Prevention of Money Laundering during 2007-08 the minimum amount required was Rs 30 Lakh.
An offence registered without even the basic amount not being crossed#Chidambaram

— Tehseen Poonawalla (@tehseenp) August 21, 2019

FIR does not name him as accused in this case.Over 2 years after the FIR, no chargesheet is filed as yet. None of the FIPB members who actually approved the proposal are in the FIR. Only "unnamed" persons. #Chidambaram

— Sumanth Raman (@sumanthraman) August 21, 2019

In sharp contrast to impediments created by Cong workers in the detention of P Chidambaram today @narendramodi and @AmitShah quietly submitted to the authorities when they were being hounded by the UPA Govt over various cases in Gujarat a decade ago. Modi was grilled for 9 hours

— Uday Mahurkar (@UdayMahurkar) August 21, 2019