Sukesh Chandrasekhar gets bail in AIADMK's 'two leaves' symbol scam, stays in jail
India Today
A Delhi court granted bail to conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar in a money laundering case tied to the AIADMK's "two leaves" symbol bribery row. He will remain in jail due to 31 other pending cases against him.
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.
Head Constable Revathi's courageous testimony, defying threats and institutional pressure, proved pivotal in securing death sentences for nine Tamil Nadu police personnel five years after a father and son died in custodial torture.
Can abusive language alone be a crime? The Supreme Court's latest ruling draws a sharp line between vulgarity and obscenity, potentially reshaping how everyday altercations are treated under criminal law.
The alleged gold smuggling syndicate was busted by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI). The arrests came as a result of what the central agency described as a 'well-coordinated surveillance operation.'
Due to the shortage of staff in the municipal corporation, the civic body is managing arrangements through double shifts and increased workload. In some areas, extra labourers are being hired at daily wages ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,500 to lift garbage.
A Delhi court granted bail to conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar in a money laundering case tied to the AIADMK's "two leaves" symbol bribery row. He will remain in jail due to 31 other pending cases against him.
It is also alleged that when the survivor approached the police station, pressure was exerted by influential individuals to settle the matter and avoid registering a case. Later, both parties reportedly reached a compromise at the police station on Monday evening.
Hyderabad Police have registered a case against a hotel operator for allegedly selling stale biryani through a food delivery app. The accused is said to have stored food for days in unhygienic conditions and reheated it before sale.
According to sources, the incident happened when the catering vehicle lurched forward on being started up.
The Congress had alleged at a press conference on Sunday that Assam CM's wife, Riniki Bhuyan Sharma, holds passports of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Antigua-Barbuda and Egypt.
Posters and hoardings inspired by the Bollywood film Dhurandhar, targeting Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav while praising Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, surfaced across parts of Lucknow and Amethi, triggering a political row ahead of the 2027 Assembly polls.
One year after the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, India's counter-terror strategy has undergone a decisive shift with tighter security across Jammu and Kashmir, expanded intelligence coordination, and continued zero-tolerance operations amid fresh threat inputs from Pakistan-based groups.
Sections of the local tribal community had been opposing the road construction project, citing concerns over its potential impact on their land, environment, and livelihoods.
The video, which first surfaced on Monday, April 6, has triggered significant backlash as the River Ganga is considered highly sacred in Hinduism. The uproar has been sharp, with calls for legal action against the accused rising rapidly.