Modi government trying to character assassinate Chidambaram: Rahul Gandhi

Crying conspiracy, Rahul tweeted, "Modi's Govt is using the ED, CBI & sections of a spineless media to character assassinate Mr Chidambaram. I strongly condemn this disgraceful misuse of power."

Chidambaram was found unavailable since the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) reached his residence after the Delhi High Court rejected an anticipatory bail to the politician on Tuesday.

Chidambaram through a team of four lawyers- Kapil Sibal, Vivek Tankha, Salman Khurshid and Dayan Krishnan- moved the Supreme Court seeking protection from an arrest. The case is likely to be taken up on Wednesday.

The federal investigating agency CBI put up a notice outside his residence at Jor Bagh in New Delhi asking him to appear before it within two hours.

The CBI team went to his Jor Bagh residence around 6:30 pm but did not find him there. The notice was put up at his residence in his absence.

According to the court, Chidamabaram could not be provided with the bail as he is a parliamentarian. He has been termed as the "kingpin" in the case.

Accusing the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of conspiring against Chidambaram, Congress leader Priyanka said her party colleague is being shamefully hunted down.

Priyanka tweeted, "An extremely qualified and respected member of the Rajya Sabha, @PChidambaram_IN ji has served our nation with loyalty for decades including as Finance Minister & Home Minister.

He unhesitatingly speaks truth to power and exposes the failures of this government, but the truth is inconvenient to cowards so he is being shamefully hunted down. We stand by him and will continue to fight for the truth no matter what the consequences are."