Delhi court allows Indrani Mukerjea to turn approver in INX Media case linked to Chidambarams

Special judge Arun Bhardwaj pardoned IndranMukerjea, who was an accused in the case, after she submitted that she voluntarily agreed to become an approver in the case.

A Delhi court on Thursday allowed former media owner Indrani Mukerjea to turn approver in the INX case which involves former Union minister P Chidambaram and his son Karti Chidambaram.

The court has issued production warrant for Indrani Mukerjea, who is jailed in another case in Mumbai. (Satish Bate/HT FILE Photo)

In her application to turn approver, Mukherjea had prayed for pardon in the case in exchange of full and true disclosure. The court listed the matter for July 11 when Mukerjea would be brought to Delhi from Mumbai’s Byculla Jail where she is lodged as a prime accused in the murder of her daughter Sheena Bora.

The INX media case pertains to the alleged irregularities in the Foreign Investment Promotion Board clearance at a time when P Chidambaram was the Union finance minister.

According to the CBI and the ED, Chidambaram and his son Karti received illegal gratification from INX Media owners, Peter and Indrani Mukherjea for the clearance for foreign funding.

Mukherjea was earlier produced before special CBI judge Anurag Sain after being brought from Mumbai’s Byculla Jail on May 23. But the case was later transferred to special judge Arun Bhardwaj after the Lok Sabha election results as Karti Chidamabaram was elected as a parliamentarian.

The probe agency had earlier informed the court that it supports the approver application moved by Indrani Mukerjea saying that “there is no person privy to those conversations other than her”.

The CBI had arrested Karti Chidambaram in this connection in February last year and was released on bail in March.