Happy to breathe air of freedom, says Chidambaram as he walks out of jail

Soon after walking out of jail, senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Wednesday met party president Sonia Gandhi, who has extended complete backing to the former Union minister.

Speaking to reporters after meeting Gandhi, Chidambaram said, "I am happy that Supreme Court has passed an order granting bail and I am happy that I have stepped out and breathing the air of freedom after 106 days."

The former finance minister said he will address a press conference on Thursday.

Chidambaram walked out of Tihar jail hours after the Supreme Court granted him bail in a money laundering case linked to the INX Media.

His son Karti accompanied him in his meeting with Gandhi at her 10 Janpath residence.

Former prime minister Manmohan Singh and Gandhi had met Chidambaram at Tihar Jail in September and expressed solidarity with him.

Welcoming the apex court's decision, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said that Chidambaram’s incarceration was "vengeful and vindictive".

"Mr P Chidambaram’s 106 day incarceration was vengeful & vindictive. I'm glad that the SC has granted him bail. I'm confident that he will be able to prove his innocence in a fair trial," Rahul Gandhi tweeted soon after former Union finance minister was granted bail.