Truth finally prevails, Congress says after SC bail to Chidambaram

The truth has finally prevailed, the Congress said on Wednesday after the Supreme Court gave bail to senior party leader P Chidambaram in the INX-Media money laundering case.

Several party leaders welcomed the order granting bail to the former minister, who has been in custody for 105 days, with Chidambaram's lawyer and Congress colleague Abhishek Manu Singhvi describing the ruling as "excellent light after a rather long tunnel".

"Truth finally prevails #SatyamevaJayate," tweeted the party from its official handle.

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said "justice delayed is justice denied". The bail should have been granted much earlier, he said.

A three-judge bench, headed by Justice R Banumathi, granted bail to the 74-year-old former Union finance minister, who has been in custody since August 21 when he was arrested by the CBI in the INX-Media corruption case. The Enforcement Directorate had arrested him on October 16 in the money laundering case.

Singhvi termed the order "balanced", "nuanced" and "comprehensive" and a great order in favour of human rights and balanced jurisprudence.

"Phew. At last after 106 days," tweeted Karti Chidambaram on the release of his father.

Rajasthan Chief Minister and senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot echoed the party to say truth had prevailed.

The top court said Chidambaram can't leave the country without prior permission of the court and should neither try to influence the witnesses nor tamper with evidence.

The apex court set aside the Delhi High Court's November 15 verdict denying bail to the former Union finance minister.