New Delhi,
A special court today sent Karti Chidambaram, son of former Union Minister P Chidambaram, to judicial custody for 13 days in INX Media corruption case. The court also dismissed his plea to provide him a separate cell in Tihar Jail due to his threat perception.

The court dismissed his appeal for an urgent hearing on his bail plea as also his threat perception as his father P Chidambaram who, as a union minister in the previous UPA government, had handled several sensitive issues.

Karti was produced on expiry of his three-day police remand before special judge Sunil Rana who sent him to Tihar Jail, after the CBI, in whose custody he was quizzed continuously for 12 days since his arrest on February 28 from Chennai, said he was no longer required for further custodial interrogation.

“In view of the fact that no more police custody of the accused is sought by CBI, accused Karti Chidambaram is remanded to judicial custody. He be produced on March 24,” the special judge said.

The court, which refused Karti’s plea for a separate cell in the jail in view of threat perception as during his father’s tenure as Union Home Minister several terrorists were kept in Tihar jail, said the social status of the Chidambaram family cannot be ignored but he cannot be treated differently from the other accused persons.

“The apprehension raised by the senior counsel for accused cannot be ignored keeping in view the social status of the accused and his family, more specifically, his father, who is a former union minister.

“However, only keeping in view the fact of social status of the accused and his father, he cannot be treated different from other accused persons and cannot be allowed to be kept in a separate prison. However, lock up in-charge and jail superintendent are directed to provide and ensure proper security and safety to the accused during judicial custody, as per rules,” the court said.