Rs. 200 Crore Extortion Case: Supreme Court declines the plea of the alleged conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar's wife Leena Paulose

On June 14, 2024, the Supreme Court (SC) of India was hearing a petition filed by Leena Paulose, the wife of alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar, against the decision of the Delhi High Court adjourning her bail plea in the Rs. 200 Crore extortion case. The SC vacation bench constituting Justice PV Sanjay Kumar and Justice Augustine George Masih declined to grant her bail and dismissed the plea she filed. The top court, in its order dated June 14, said "Special Leave Petition is dismissed. Pending applications shall also stand dismissed." 

While hearing the matter, the SC bench orally remarked that Leena Paulose could not seek interim bail since there were multiple and serious charges against her. A chargesheet was filed against her in the extortion case by the Delhi Police’s Economic Offences Wing under Sections 120B, 170, 186, 353, 384, 386, 388, 419, 420, 406, 409, 420, 468, 471, and 506 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Section 66D of Information Technology Act, and Sections 3 and 4 of the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act, 1999. 

Considering her prolonged detention, the SC bench said, "You have been in prison for two years and eight months, as soon as you come to the court you require an order." After hearing the matter, the SC refused to interfere with the order of the Delhi HC, stating “Not for us to arrange the board of the High Court.” During the proceedings, Senior Advocate Trideep Pais, Advocate Anant Malik, Advocate Paul John Edison, Advocate Anju Thomas, Advocate Sanjeev Kaushik, and Advocate Lihzu Shiney Konyak represented Paulose. 

In September 2021, both Sukesh Chandrashekhar and his wife Leena Paulose were arrested by the Delhi Police and are currently in judicial custody relating to an extortion case.