New Delhi [India], May 31 (NT): Former Union minister and Finance minister in UPA regime Congress leader P Chidambaram was granted interim protection from arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) till July 3 in the INX Media Case on Thursday.

Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi is representing Chidambaram.When asked to him he refused to speak on the matter, saying that, "it is not the right time to discuss the issue."

This came a day after Chidambaram received a temporary relief from arrest by the Enforcement Directorate in the Aircel-Maxis case till June 5.

The former union minister and senor congress leader had approached the anticipatory bail in the Delhi High Court in links with the INX Media Case on Wednesday.

Chidambaram in his bail plea noted that "investigation is based on mala fide intention; the petitioner will duly appear before CBI tomorrow and cooperate with the investigation."

On a related note Chidambaram was directed by the CBI to appear before it on May 31 for inquiring in the long pending case.

The case is linked to alleged irregularities when the media company sought foreign investment approval in 2007.

The probe agency had earlier arrested P. Chidambaram's son, Karti Chidambaram for alleged irregularities of Rs 305 crore in the case on February 28 at the Chennai airport on his return from the United Kingdom, for his alleged role in facilitating Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB) clearance for INX Media Ltd. and its directors, Peter and Indrani Mukerjea. (NT)