Justice Subramonium Prasad of the Delhi High Court recused himself on Wednesday from hearing a plea by alleged conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar, who sought additional meetings with his lawyers while in jail. The recusal was prompted by the numerous legal cases against Chandrasekhar, which could create a conflict of interest or require a different judicial perspective.
Chandrasekhar’s plea requested permission to increase his in-person meetings with legal counsel from the currently allowed two times per week to five. He cited the precedent set in the Arvind Kejriwal case, where five weekly meetings with legal counsel were permitted.
Advocate Anant Malik, representing Chandrasekhar, argued that the two virtual meetings allowed per week were insufficient for his client, who is an undertrial prisoner involved in several high-profile corruption and extortion cases. The plea emphasized the complexity of these cases and the need for more frequent consultations to effectively manage his defense.
Additionally, Chandrasekhar’s petition highlighted his personal difficulties, including isolation from his family due to distance and the incarceration of his spouse, which have increased his distress. The petition argued that the current restrictions on legal consultations violate Chandrasekhar’s fundamental rights under Article 22(1) of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees the right to consult and be defended by a legal practitioner of one’s choice.
Chandrasekhar has been jailed for allegedly extorting Rs 200 crore from Aditi Singh, the wife of former Fortis promoter Shivinder Singh, under the guise of securing bail for her husband.
