nThe trial court on Thursday further extended the judicial custody of former finance minister P Chidambaram to October 17, noting that the investigation in the INX Media corruption case is still pending and allowed home cooked vegetarian food for him once in a day. For its part, the Supreme Court will hear his bail application on Friday.
"The investigation is still pending. It is informed that the bail application of the accused has been dismissed by the Delhi High Court on September 30. Considering the facts mentioned in the application and that there is no change in the circumstances as noted in the earlier orders, the judicial remand of the accused is extended till October 17," said the Special Judge Ajay Kumar Kuhar in the Order.
The court however allowed Chidambaram to have home cooked vegetarian food once a day in Tihar jail, where is lodged, after noting that 74-year old Congress leader is suffering from multiple ailments including inflammation of his digestive tract.
"From the medical record shown by the applicant (Chidambaram), it is apparent that the applicant is suffering from multiple ailments. He is 74 years of age. He is suffering from inflammation of his digestive tract. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the agency, submitted that he has no objection to Chidambaram being provided with home cooked food.
"In these circumstances, it may be conducive to his health condition that he is provided home cooked food once a day to avoid any further deterioration in his health condition," the Judge noted. However, the court clarified that this order is not to be taken as a precedent as the concession for home food was being given in peculiar facts and circumstances and keeping his medical condition in mind.
The court directed the Tihar jail superintendent to take care of Chidambaram's safety and security and to ensure that the food received from home is duly checked and then supplied to him. Chidambaram was arrested by CBI on August 21 and was sent to Tihar jail on September 5 in the INX Media bribery case.
With Chidambaram moving the SC for bail, the apex court listed his petition before the Bench comprising Justices Bhanumati and Hrishikesh Roy.