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Synopsis

The Delhi High Court on Monday issued notice to the Delhi Police in the bail plea filed by Sukesh Chandrashekhar's wife, Leena Paulose, in connection with Rs 200 crore extortion case registered by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Delhi Police.

During the hearing, Counsel for Leena Paulose submitted that she is a Tamil actress and a doctor with strong roots in society. His primary contention was that six IPC offences alleged against Paulose are bailable and another six IPC offences are Non-bailable, along with S.3 of Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act, 1999 (MCOCA) and Information Technology Act, registered against her.

The counsel also submitted that the ingredients of the offence in the present case were not made out and that the charge sheet had been filed and the investigation was complete. Furthermore, he contended that being a lady under S.437(1) of CrPC, Paulose was entitled to special protection.

On the contrary, while opposing the bail plea, the additional standing counsel (ASC) for Delhi Government submitted that they will have to file a copy of the charge sheet and supplementary charge sheet, because as per S.21(4) of the MCOCA until the court is sure that no offence is committed, bail cannot be granted. She contended that in the present case, even confessions were admissible and that the co-accused’s confessions were on record, and the money trail was there.

The ASC stated how Paulose’s husband Sukesh Chandrashekhar from jail called a lady and impersonated to be Law Secretary, Home Minister, etc, and extorted money from her, on the pretext of getting her bail, but later changed his tune and threatened to cause harm to her family.

Taking note of the submissions Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma noted that the bail applications of the trial court had been rejected and that S. 21(4) of the MCOCA places a higher bar for not releasing an accused charged under it. Accordingly, the court directed the Delhi Police to file a reply and listed the matter for February 2, 2023.

According to sources, Leena Paulose is a master con woman and strategist, as well as the brains and key factor behind the schemes created to launder the proceeds of crime by her husband Sukash Chandrashekar. Paulose has been charge-sheeted by Enforcement Directorate for an Rs.200 crore money laundering case.

Case Title: Leena Paulose v. State of Delhi