NEW DELHI: Alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar’s wife, Leena Maria Paul, told the Delhi High Court on Tuesday that she was unaware that he was running a crime syndicate.
Paul made the submission before a special bench led by Justice Prateek Jalan while seeking bail in a case lodged against the couple and others under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act.
Delhi Police has claimed that the accused persons ran an organised crime syndicate, extorted money through coercion, and laundered the proceeds. Her counsel also told the court that her relationship with Chandrashekhar was not going well and that he had an affair with film actor Jacqueline Fernandez.
Paul has sought bail, claiming that she is not required for further interrogation and that there is no likelihood of her fleeing the country if released. She told the court that she is an actor, has received film awards, and has a reputation in society.
The prosecution, meanwhile, opposed the application, claiming that Paul was the mastermind of the organised crime syndicate. It alleged that she managed the transactions of Chandrashekhar’s organised crime syndicate and distributed money to others.
The couple is accused in several cases, including one related to allegedly duping the wives of former Ranbaxy promoters Shivinder Singh and Malvinder Singh of `200 crore, and a related money laundering case.
Chandrasekhar is also an accused in a bribery case related to the AIADMK’s “two leaves” election symbol. He was accused of acting as a middleman for AIADMK leader T. T. V. Dinakaran and attempting to bribe an Election Commission official to secure the party’s symbol for the faction led by V. K. Sasikala.
Delhi Police has alleged that Paul, Chandrashekhar, and other accused persons used hawala routes and created shell companies to park the money received as proceeds of crime.
‘Used hawala routes’
Delhi Police has alleged that Paul, Chandrashekhar, and other accused persons used hawala routes and created shell companies to park the money received as proceeds of crime. The couple is accused in several cases, including one related to allegedly duping the wives of former Ranbaxy promoters.
AIADMK symbol scam
Chandrasekhar is also an accused in a bribery case related to the AIADMK’s “two leaves” election symbol. He was accused of acting as a middleman for AIADMK leader T. T. V. Dinakaran and attempting to bribe an Election Commission official to secure the party’s symbol for the faction led by V. K. Sasikala.
Also in court
Student gets bail for board exam
A Delhi court granted four-day interim bail to an 18-year-old student accused in an attempted murder case, allowing him to appear for his Class XII Sociology Board examination on April 4. The judge said losing an academic year would cause irreparable harm. According to the prosecution, the accused incited a minor to stab the victim, another student.