Interim Congress president Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited party colleague P. Chidambaram in Tihar jail on Monday morning in an expression of solidarity.

Chidambaram was quick to publicly acknowledge what the visit meant to him. “I have asked my family to tweet on my behalf the following: I am honoured that Smt Sonia Gandhi and Dr Manmohan Singh called on me today. As long as the @INCIndia party is strong and brave, I will also be strong and brave.”

Chidambaram, arrested on August 21, is being probed for alleged corruption in the grant of Foreign Investment Promotion Board clearance to INX Media in 2007 when he was finance minister. The CBI is probing alleged bribery and the Enforcement Directorate is investigating a money-laundering angle.

Chidambaram, arrested on August 21, is being probed for alleged corruption in the grant of Foreign Investment Promotion Board clearance to INX Media in 2007 when he was finance minister. The CBI is probing alleged bribery and the Enforcement Directorate is investigating a money-laundering angle. (PTI)

In a statement late in the evening, Singh said: “In our system of government, no decision can be taken by any single person. All decisions are collective decisions recorded in files. A dozen officers, including six secretaries to the government, examined and recommended the proposal. Minister Chidambaram approved the unanimous recommendation.

“If the officers are not at fault, it is beyond our comprehension how the minister who simply approved the recommendation can be accused of committing an offence. If the minister is liable for approving a recommendation, the whole system of government will collapse. We are confident, and we sincerely hope, that the courts will render justice in this case.’’

Chidambaram’s son and Lok Sabha MP Karti Chidambaram, a co-accused in the case, thanked Sonia.

“Honourable Congress president has always been supportive of my father. She has always been reiterating the complete support of the party to my father. She reiterated that personally to him today,” he told reporters outside the jail.

“My father and my family are extremely grateful to Congress president Sonia Gandhi and former PM Dr Manmohan Singh for visiting him today and for extending their support. It’s a big boost for us in this political fight.’’

On Friday, Jairam Ramesh had underlined that Chidambaram was just one of 12 signatories on the file that cleared the FDI proposal.