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Synopsis

The Bombay High Court has granted bail to conman Sukhesh Chandrashekhar in a 2015 cheating case filed against him.

A single judge bench of Justice Manish Pitale was hearing a bail application filed by Chandrashekhar in a case filed against him by the Mumbai Police Economic Offences Wing in 2015.

The case filed against Chandrashekhar was in relation to a Ponzi scheme floated by him and his South African actress girlfriend, where they promised 20% monthly returns on investment and other benefits like gold coins.

Advocate Vikram Sutaria, appearing for Chandrashekhar, submitted that the maximum imprisonment for the offense was 7 years and that he was already behind bars for 7 years and 10 months. Therefore, he submitted that he should be granted bail.

In May 2015, Chandrashekhar had approached the high court for bail, which was rejected, prompting him to file an appeal before the Supreme Court. 

The Supreme Court initially granted him bail but later canceled it due to non-compliance with the bail conditions.

The high court, while granting bail, noted that Chandrashekhar had already undergone more than the total sentence that could be imposed on him.

"Considering the second period of incarceration as starting from 09.10.2017 and adding the same to the earlier period of incarceration between 29.05.2015 and 10.09.2016, the total period of incarceration suffered by the applicant is about seven years and ten months. It is certainly more than the maximum period of sentence that can be imposed upon the applicant, even if he is convicted for the offences registered under the subject FIR," the high noted.

However, Chandrashekhar will remain in Delhi's Tihar Jail due to other cases filed against him.