A Delhi court on Tuesday granted bail to conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar in a money laundering case linked to the AIADMK’s “two leaves” election symbol bribery scandal, though he will remain in jail for now due to 31 other pending cases against him.
The order was passed by Special Judge Vishal Gogne at the Rouse Avenue Court, which granted Chandrasekhar bail on a personal bond and surety of Rs 5 lakh each. The court noted that he had already spent more than half of the maximum seven-year sentence prescribed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) without trial in this case.
Emphasising the primacy of personal liberty, the judge observed that courts cannot “preach liberty”, while simultaneously restricting it under the pretext of special laws or economic offences. While acknowledging that money laundering is a serious offence, the court said laws like the PMLA cannot be used as a tool to unduly curtail an accused’s freedom for prolonged periods.
The Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) case stems from a 2017 Delhi Police FIR alleging that Chandrasekhar acted as a middleman for then AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran. He was accused of attempting to bribe the Election Commission with Rs 50 lakh to secure the party’s “two leaves” symbol for the faction led by VK Sasikala.
According to investigators, Rs 1.3 crore in cash was recovered and allegedly meant to influence the poll panel. The ED further alleged that Chandrasekhar coordinated the generation and transfer of proceeds of crime amounting to Rs 2 crore from Chennai to Delhi, and later projected Rs 63.78 lakh as legitimate funds.
Despite the gravity of the allegations and the existence of 31 cases against him, the court held that this alone could not defeat his right to bail in the present matter, particularly as he has already secured bail in 26 of those cases.
The judge also took note of prolonged delays, pointing out that proceedings in both the predicate offence and the ED case have been stayed by the Delhi High Court for years. This, the court said, meant Chandrasekhar had already undergone excessive detention and faced the prospect of further prolonged incarceration without trial.
Citing Section 479(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, which mandates bail for undertrials who have served half of the maximum sentence (except in cases involving death or life imprisonment), the court said the circumstances were “ripe” for granting relief.
While allowing the bail plea, the court imposed strict conditions, including surrender of passport, restrictions on travel abroad, and a bar on contacting or influencing witnesses.
However, Chandrasekhar will not walk free immediately, as he remains incarcerated in connection with other pending criminal cases.
– Ends
(with inputs from PTI)
Published On:
Apr 7, 2026 23:35 IST
