A Delhi special court has extended the CBI custody of Congress leader P. Chidambaram till Tuesday in the INX Media case.
The CBI on Monday opposed in court any relief to the former finance minister and sought extension of his custodial interrogation by a day.
The Congress leader was produced in court after the expiry of his three-day custody that was granted on August 30.
He was produced before special judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar and senior advocate Kapil Sibal moved an interim bail application for Chidambaram, who was arrested on the night of August 21.
Solicitor-general Tushar Mehta sought time to reply to Chidambaram's interim bail plea and said that the notice be issued to the CBI as it is statutorily required.
'All citizens have to be treated equally,' Mehta said, adding that personal liberty of every citizen is equal.
After the judge was informed about Monday's Supreme Court hearing, he asked if there was any direction by the apex court to seek relief and it being decided today itself.
During the hearing, Mehta asked what was so special and extraordinary in this case.
Responding to his submission, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, also appearing for Chidambaram, said the Solicitor General would not have been here if it would have been a normal case.
Mehta said it would be a serious travesty of justice if the CBI is not given time to reply to the bail plea.
Sibal said he wants to argue for bail.
The special court on August 30 had extended Chidambaram's CBI custody till today.
Chidambaram, 73, has been in custodial interrogation by the CBI for 11 days since his arrest on August 21, after the Delhi High Court on August 20 dismissed his anticipatory bail plea.
The CBI registered an FIR on May 15, 2017, alleging irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance granted to the INX Media group for receiving overseas funds of Rs 305 crore in 2007 during Chidambaram's tenure as the finance minister.
The Enforcement Directorate lodged a money laundering case in this regard the same month.
