No Relief for Sukesh: SC Refuses to Stay Conviction for Impersonating Judge
The Supreme Court denied conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar's plea to stay his conviction for impersonating a Supreme Court judge.
The Supreme Court has dealt a significant blow to notorious conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar by refusing to interfere with a Delhi High Court order that denied a stay on his conviction. Chandrashekhar had been found guilty of the audacious act of impersonating a Supreme Court judge to manipulate a judicial officer for favorable orders in a criminal proceeding.
The Legal Battle for Suspension
A bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and Manmohan dismissed the plea filed by Chandrashekhar, which challenged the High Court's decision to refuse the suspension of his conviction and sentence while his appeal is pending. During the proceedings, senior advocate Shoeb Alam, representing Chandrashekhar, raised concerns regarding the trial court's commentary on his character.
Alam argued that the trial court had made adverse observations based on 31 pending criminal cases against the conman. He pointed out that since Chandrashekhar had not been convicted in any of those specific cases, such observations could unfairly prejudice the ongoing trials. Referencing Section 41 of the Bharatiya Sakshya Adhiniyam, which pertains to evidence of character, the defense claimed that these remarks could jeopardize future legal outcomes.
Supreme Court's Verdict
Justice Pardiwala questioned the necessity and grounds for seeking a stay on the conviction. After reviewing the materials on record and hearing the arguments, the bench concluded that the Delhi High Court had committed no error of law in its decision. The Court stated clearly that there was no reason to interfere with the impugned order.
Furthermore, the bench clarified that all other criminal trials currently pending against Chandrashekhar must proceed independently, based on their own merits and in strict accordance with the law.
The Audacious Crime: How it Happened
The case stems from a shocking breach of security and judicial integrity. While in police custody for a corruption case dating back to 2017, Chandrashekhar allegedly managed to get his hands on a police constable's mobile phone. Using the device, he contacted a judicial officer via official landlines and mobile numbers.
In a bold attempt to sway the legal process, Chandrashekhar first posed as the private secretary of a sitting Supreme Court judge. He later escalated the deception by impersonating the judge himself, attempting to pressure the officer into issuing orders that would benefit him.
Sentencing and Judicial Criticism
The Chief Judicial Magistrate convicted Chandrashekhar on August 20 under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including:
- Section 170: Impersonating a public servant.
- Section 189: Threatening a public servant.
- Section 507: Criminal intimidation through anonymous communication.
He was subsequently sentenced on August 29. In the judgment, the trial court did not mince words, describing Chandrashekhar's attempt to interfere with the judiciary as an act of "institutional defiance."
Prior to reaching the apex court, Chandrashekhar's plea for suspension of sentence had already been rejected by the trial court and the Delhi High Court. The High Court had previously noted that any objections regarding the trial court's observations should be addressed during the appeal hearing rather than during a request for the suspension of conviction.