Apex Court Dismisses Sukesh Chandrasekhar's Plea For Grant Of More Time With Lawyers, Says It Is A Privilege In Jail

The Supreme Court today hauled up alleged conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar for his plea seeking permission to spend more time with his lawyers inside the jail. 

A bench of Justice Ajay Rastogi and Justice Bela M. Trivedi while dismissing the plea, remarked that the petitioner is seeking a privilege. "Are you seeking a privilege?", Justice Ajay Rastogi agitatedly asked.

The Counsel appearing for Sukesh said, "...More than 28 cases are pending before various courts in the country, more than 10 lawyers have been appointed but he is given only 30 minutes twice a week". "Opportunity is given but opportunity is not suffice", he added. 

To that Justice Bhat exclaimed, "This is extraordinary...Let the lawyers stay inside rather than coming..."

"...What he is seeking is extraordinary and is not permitted under the rules", Justice Rastogi said.

The Supreme Court on the previous occasion had sought to know from the Superintendent of Mandoli jail about the measures taken for the safety of alleged conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar, saying the security of undertrial prisoners in jails is paramount and they need to be protected.

The bench had then asked the Mandoli jail superintendent to apprise the court in two weeks of the measures taken for the protection of Chandrasekhar, who claimed threat to his life from jail personnel.

The Apex Court was then hearing a plea filed by Chandrasekhar and his wife Leena Paulose seeking direction from the court to be shifted from Mandoli jail to a prison outside Delhi claiming he is being harassed and threatened by jail officials and the city's ruling political dispensation after he made certain allegations against them.

Cause Title: Sukesh Chandra Shekhar @ Sukesh & Anr. v. Union of India & Anr.