A Delhi court has directed that charges be framed against alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekar and 20 other accused in a major extortion and organised crime case investigated by the Delhi Police Special Cell. The order marks a significant step forward in one of the country's most high-profile criminal cases involving allegations of large-scale fraud, impersonation and extortion.
Additional Sessions Judge Prashant Sharma held that there was sufficient prima facie material on record to proceed against the accused under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code, the Information Technology Act and the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act.
Court finds grounds to proceed
According to the Hindustan Times, the court ordered that Sukesh be charged with offences including impersonating a public servant, cheating, extortion, criminal intimidation and criminal conspiracy. It also directed that charges under MCOCA be framed against him for allegedly engaging in organised crime activities and possessing unaccounted wealth linked to an organised crime syndicate.
Similar charges, except the offence of impersonating a public servant, were ordered against his wife, Leena Paulose.
Seventeen other accused will face charges under criminal law provisions, the IT Act and MCOCA, while three individuals have been ordered to face charges related to cheating and criminal conspiracy. All accused have been directed to appear before the court on June 3 for the formal framing of charges.
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Alleged ₹217 crore extortion racket
According to the Hindustan Times, the case originated from a complaint filed by Aditi S. Singh, who alleged that she received a phone call in June 2020 from a person claiming to be a senior official in the Union Law Ministry. According to the complaint, the caller offered to resolve legal issues connected to her husband and business interests in exchange for money.
Investigators alleged that the accused subsequently impersonated senior government officials and extorted approximately ₹217 crore from the complainant through a carefully planned conspiracy.
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Probe traced calls to jail cell
According to the Hindustan Times, technical surveillance led investigators to Sukesh, who was lodged in Tihar Jail at the time in connection with another case.
Police claimed that a raid conducted inside his prison cell in August 2021 resulted in the recovery of two mobile phones. The investigation later expanded to include several alleged associates and facilitators.
Prosecutors contend that Sukesh and his associates operated an organised criminal network for years, using multiple intermediaries to collect and transfer funds while allegedly receiving assistance from certain jail officials. Authorities claim the syndicate continued functioning even while Sukesh remained incarcerated, leading to the invocation of MCOCA provisions in the case.
With the court now ordering formal charges, the trial is set to begin in the coming weeks.
