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Court remarked that in order to ascertain whether money was being extorted from Chandrashekar or if he was paying the officials to run his criminal activities, it is important to know who made the payments on his behalf
A Supreme Court bench of Justices UU Lalit, Ravindra Bhat and Sudhanshu Dhulia today, asked alleged conman Sukash Chandrashekar to provide details of who made payments to the jail authorities on his behalf and who received the same.
The court was hearing a plea by Chandrashekar for being shifted out of Tihar jail alleging a threat to his life. He is currently undertrial, for allegations by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) that it seized a luxurious sea-facing bungalow in Chennai, Rs 82.5 lakh cash, and over a dozen luxury cars in connection with a money laundering case against him.
It is Chandrashekar’s plea that there is a threat to his life at Tihar as many officials of the jail have been arrested for taking bribes from him. It has also been alleged, by authorities that Chandrashekar bribed Tihar officials to live comfortably in jail.
When the matter came up for hearing today, R. Basant, Sr. Adv, appearing for Chandrashekar, informed the court that while the crimes he has committed are not before the court for consideration, he has filed the plea to be shifted out of Tihar. He said “In Delhi jails, Chandrashekar is being intimidated and extorted. I have already paid huge amounts.”
The court questioned Basant as to how much money Chandrashekar has paid to the authorities. Basant , replied to the court’s query informing that a total of Rs.12.5 crores had been paid. The court, proceeded to ask Basant as to how the money was arranged and how it was paid. The senior counsel, informed the court that Chandrashekar had instructed his associates during ‘Jail Mulakaat’.
The court, at this point, questioned Basant about why a plea was filed in 2022 when the amounts were paid from August 2020 to July 2021. Basant, replied to this saying Chandrashekar’s state of mind was such that he could not approach the courts earlier.
Upon hearing the submissions, court remarked that in order to ascertain whether money was being extorted from Chandrashekar or if he was paying the officials to run his criminal activities, it is important to know who made the payments on his behalf. Thus, the court asked Basant as to who made payments on Chandrashekar’s behalf. Basant, submitted that he might not be able to answer the question right away, he will however take instructions in this regard.
The court, on hearing the submissions, observed “We will go to the root of the matter! We are not going to leave the matter. We will finish the process so that hereafter these kind of attempts are not even dreamt of!”
Thus, the court passed an order, observing that “To ascertain whether he was extorted from or was bribing, it would be necessary to understand who made the payments on his behalf.” The matter has thus been adjourned to July 26, 2022 to furnish the details that the court asked for. The court, has also clarified that SV Raju, ASG's undertaking before the bench that he will instruct the prison officials to provide him with adequate security, will continue.
On June 17, 2022 the Supreme Court, had recorded that it would be appropriate to shift Chandrashekar from Tihar Jail. The court had then asked centre to file a list of jails where he can be shifted. On June 23, 2022 Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, today, told the Supreme Court that alleged conman Sukash Chandrashekar can be shifted to Mandoli Jail in Delhi. Earlier,Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, had informed the Supreme Court that Chandrashekar impersonated Law Secretary and Home Secretary to call the judges. He further informed the court that models visited Chandrashekar in jail with the help of authorities, however action has been taken against them
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