The Supreme Court of India granted bail to former Union Minister P Chidambaram on Tuesday in the INX Media case probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

Although this is the first bit of good news for theformer minister but it does not, however, mean that Chidambaram could walk outof jail right away as he is also under arrest in a related case beinginvestigated by the Enforcement Directorate and is being grilled by officialsof the federal agency mandated to probe money laundering. The Congress leaderwas last remanded in ED custody till October 24.

A bench led by Justice R Banmathi, which had heardChidambaram's appeal against the rejection of bail by the high court, hasordered that the former home and finance minister should produce a bail bond ofRs. one lakh and two sureties. He will also have to deposit his passport withthe special court if not already done so far.

The top court's ruling on his appeal sets aside thehigh court verdict that had taken a view that as a former minister, theCongress leader could influence witnesses in the case.