Today, Delhi High Court issued notice on the plea of Sukesh Chandrasekar challenging the punishment awarded to him by jail authorities. Earlier, the Jail authorities in its order stopped him from using Family meetings/ phone calls and Canteen facilities going to be effective from May 1 till May 15, 2023.

The bench of Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma issued a notice to the jail authorities and directed them to file a report on the plea. Additional standing counsel Nandita Rao accepted the notice.

The counsel for Chandrasekar, Advocate Anant Malik, submitted that the two punishment tickets were issued to Sukesh Chandrasekar without hearing him and It was a violation of the principle of natural justice. 

On the contrary, Additional Standing Counsel (ASD) Nandita Rao opposed the submissions and argued that there is no urgency in the matter. She said that she would file a status report.

The petitioner has prayed before the court to set aside and quash the Order of 17.04.2023 passed by the office of the Jail Deputy Superintendent of Prison, Mandoli, as well as stay on the execution of the said order until the adjudication of the instant Petition.

The Jail Deputy Superintendent has arbitrarily, erroneously and without any application of mind, awarded two punishment tickets against the Petitioner depriving him of the canteen facility and the Mulakat/Phone call facility for 15 days, the plea said. It is only through the phone calling facility that the Petitioner was able to be in touch with her and know about her well-being, especially when the Petitioner is an under-trial prisoner in various politically sensitive matters and is receiving life threats daily, the plea submitted.

The plea further submitted that, there is a conflict of interest between the present Petitioner and the jail officials who have been threatening him and his family and causing them mental and physical agony, 

The Petitioner has also submitted that the said acts of the jail officials have been reported by the Petitioner before the learned Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ), Patiala House and the Hon'ble Court was pleased to give directions to conduct a special independent inquiry regarding the said complaints.

The Petitioner has even filed a Criminal Writ Petition requesting the Supreme Court to transfer him from the jail of Delhi to any other state due to these constant life threats and pressures which are increasing day by day.

Sukesh Chandrasekar is accused in a ₹ 200 crore cheating case by Delhi police. He is also an accused in a connected money laundering case.

The next date of hearing is on 28th April.