Delhi HC Sets July 2 for Hearing Leena Paulose’s PMLA Bail Plea
The Delhi High Court will hear on July 2 the bail application moved by Leena Paulose, an actor and wife of alleged conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar, in relation to a money laundering case registered against her under the PMLA.
A bench led by Justice Shalinder Kaur heard the arguments presented by counsels appearing for Leena Paulose and listed the matter for the next hearing on July 2.
Earlier in September 2001, Paulose was arrested concerning a Rs 200 crore extortion case registered by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Delhi Police against her.
During the course of proceedings, Advocate Anant Malik, along with John Paul Edison, appeared for Leena Paulose.
Her counsels argued that she had been in jail for a period of three years and seven months, and that the charges had not been framed even now. While citing section 45 of PMLA, it was argued that Section 45(1) proviso provides relaxation for women.
It was further argued that other co-accused in the present case, particularly Pinki Irani and Jacqueline Fernandez, had been granted bail by the court. It was also contended that Avtar Singh Kochar had been granted bail by placing reliance on the Supreme Court judgment in the Manish Sisodia case.
In September 2024, the Directorate of Enforcement before the Delhi High Court alleged that Leena Paulose, the wife of Sukesh Chandersekhar, ‘Was not only involved in abetting but was part of an organized syndicate’.
The court had inquired about the number of individuals granted bail in this case. The ED informed the court that out of the 18 accused under MCOCA, 14 were currently imprisoned.
Background
Sukesh Chandersekhar orchestrated an entire scam using spoof calls. He impersonated senior government officials, defrauding and extorting a significant sum of Rs 200 crore. During a probe, the ED searched the residence of Leena Paulose in Chennai on August 16, 2021, suspecting that it would contain records relating to money laundering and proceeds of crime, leading to a total recovery of 16 luxury and high-end cars.
ED contended that Sukesh had purchased these cars either in the name of some firms of his wife or third parties and had made cash payments through his associates B. Mohanraj and Arun Muthu. He further legitimised the transactions with rent agreements.
Previously, a bail application was rejected by Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma. It was opined that “the case is of very 'sensitive nature' and prima facie the petitioner is involved in the offence of Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA)”.
Case Title: Leena Paulose v State NCT Of Delhi