₹200 Crore Extortion Case: Supreme Court Sets 3-Week Deadline For Delhi HC To Decide Leena Paulose’s Bail

The bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and N. Kotiswar Singh passed the order while hearing a petition filed by Paulose seeking an expeditious hearing of her bail application, which has reportedly been pending before the High Court for over a year.

Taking note of the submission made on her behalf regarding the prolonged pendency of the plea, the apex court asked the High Court to dispose of the matter within the stipulated timeframe.

Paulose and Chandrasekhar were arrested by Delhi Police in a case alleging a massive extortion conspiracy involving approximately ₹200 crore. According to the prosecution, Chandrasekhar allegedly duped the wives of former Ranbaxy promoters Shivinder Singh and Malvinder Singh by posing as a high-ranking government functionary and extracting money on false assurances. The police have alleged that Chandrasekhar, Paulose and other co-accused formed part of an organised crime syndicate and routed funds through hawala channels and shell companies to conceal the proceeds of crime.

Apart from the extortion case, both Chandrasekhar and Paulose are facing proceedings initiated by the Enforcement Directorate under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Multiple investigations against Chandrasekhar are reportedly underway in different parts of the country.

Notably, on 30 July 2025, the Delhi High Court had said it would hear the plea filed by actor Leena Paulose, wife of alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar, seeking medical treatment at a hospital of her choice, on 13 August, 2025.

Paulose, who is currently in judicial custody in a money laundering case, has been diagnosed with Tuberculosis.

Previously, on 26 June, 2025, the high court had issued notice on a plea filed by actor Leena Paulose, seeking medical treatment at a hospital of her choice. In her plea, she had sought directions to avail in-custody private medical treatment and diagnosis at a hospital of her choice, contending that adequate treatment is not feasible within the jail premises.

In February 2023, the Additional Sessions Judge had granted permission to ED to dispose of the confiscated vehicles. ED was also directed to file a report regarding disposal to the economic offences wing of the Delhi police Leena Paulose, thereafter, approached the Delhi High Court seeking to overturn the order of the Trial Court allowing the sale of luxury vehicles. The court, however, denied her plea noting that the seized 26 luxury and high-end cars were ‘prima facie’ found “to have been purchased out of the “proceeds of crime” generated out of the criminal activities of Mr. Sukash Channdersekhar”.

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)”.

Earlier in September 2021, Paulose was arrested concerning a Rs 200 crore extortion case registered by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Delhi Police against her.

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.

Case Title: Leena Paulose v. State NCT of Delhi

Bench: Justices MM Sundresh and NK Singh

Hearing Date: February 23, 2026