The Delhi High Court’s Justice Subramonium Prasad on Wednesday recused himself from hearing the plea filed by alleged conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar, who is seeking additional meetings with his lawyers in jail.
The recusal was due to the multiple legal cases against Chandrasekhar, which could potentially present a conflict of interest or require a different judicial perspective.
In his plea, Sukesh Chandrasekhar requested permission to increase his meetings with his legal counsel to five times a week. This request sought three additional meetings beyond the two currently allowed each week. Chandrasekhar supported his request by referencing the Arvind Kejriwal case, where five weekly meetings with legal counsel were granted.
Advocate Anant Malik, representing Chandrasekhar, stated that the petitioner, an undertrial prisoner involved in numerous cases across different jurisdictions, finds the current allowance of virtual meetings insufficient. Given the complexity and breadth of his legal issues, including high-profile corruption and extortion cases, Chandrasekhar asserted that more frequent consultations with his lawyers are crucial for effectively managing his defense.
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The petition also emphasized Chandrasekhar’s personal difficulties, including isolation from his family due to distance and the incarceration of his spouse. This situation increases his distress, underscoring the need for regular and meaningful interactions with his legal counsel.
Additionally, the petition argued that the current restrictions on legal consultations violate Chandrasekhar’s fundamental rights under Article 22(1) of the Constitution of India, which guarantees the right to consult and be defended by a legal practitioner of one’s choice.
Chandrasekhar was jailed for allegedly extorting ₹200 crore from Aditi Singh, the wife of former Fortis Promoter Shivinder Singh, under the pretext of securing bail for her husband.
(WITH INPUTS FROM ANI)
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