The Supreme Court on Monday extended till Tuesday the protection from arrest given to former finance minister P. Chidambaram in the INX Media money laundering case lodged by the Enforcement Directorate.

The bench of Justices R. Banumathi and A.S. Bopanna said it will continue hearing on Tuesday the plea of Chidambaram challenging the Delhi High Court order which had rejected his anticipatory bail in the money laundering case.

Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Chidambaram, completed his arguments and said he will file the rejoinder to the ED's counter affidavit.

Solicitor-General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the ED, said he will advance his arguments on Tuesday and the bench posted the matter for hearing at noon tomorrow.

The court earlier in the day refused to entertain Chidambaram's plea challenging the dismissal of his anticipatory bail in the corruption case lodged by the CBI in the INX Media scam.

The apex court said his petition has become infructuous as Chidambaram has already been arrested by the CBI.

Written with PTI inputs