The Delhi High Court on Tuesday granted partial relief to Leena Paulose, the wife of alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar, who is facing multiple criminal cases. While she was granted bail in a money laundering case investigated by the Enforcement Directorate, her bail plea in a separate Rs 200-crore extortion case under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act was rejected.
Court's Decision
Justice Prateek Jalan pronounced the verdict on two separate bail applications filed by Paulose. "I have rejected the application in the MCOCA case but allowed it in the ED case," the judge stated. The court considered Paulose's arguments, which included the delay in trial, the period of custody already undergone, and parity with other accused in the money laundering case.
Arguments Raised by the Defense
Paulose's legal counsel argued that she had already served the minimum sentence of three years under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, as she has been in custody since September 2021. They also highlighted that the ED filed its fifth supplementary chargesheet two years after her arrest, and arguments on the charges commenced only after three years of her arrest. Additionally, the defense sought relief on the ground that she is a woman.
Opposition from Prosecution
Both the ED and the Delhi Police opposed the bail petitions, alleging that Paulose was deeply involved in Sukesh's crime syndicate. The prosecution argued that the delay in trial should not be considered for bail in a MCOCA case, and claimed that the accused themselves caused the delay. The police have invoked MCOCA, citing the use of hawala and shell companies to park proceeds of crime.
Details of the Extortion Case
The police have booked the couple for allegedly duping the wives of former Ranbaxy promoters Shivinder Singh and Malvinder Singh of Rs 200 crore. According to the allegations, Sukesh and his associates posed as government officials and promised to secure bail for Shivinder, who was in jail in a money laundering case. They reportedly took money from Shivinder's wife, Aditi Singh, under false pretenses.
Ongoing Investigations
Several separate investigations against Sukesh Chandrashekhar are currently underway. The police have invoked MCOCA due to the organized nature of the alleged crimes, including the use of hawala and shell companies to launder money. The High Court's decision provides Paulose with partial relief, but she remains in custody in connection with the extortion case.
