In a significant development, a Delhi court on Friday granted bail to alleged conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar in a bribery case involving the AIADMK’s “two leaves” election symbol, with the judge citing excessive detention beyond the statutory maximum as the reason for the decision.
Special Judge Vishal Gogne approved Chandrasekhar’s release on a personal bond of Rs 5 lakh. The allegations against Chandrasekhar center on his role as an intermediary for AIADMK leader T T V Dinakaran, attempting to bribe an official from the Election Commission of India (ECI) to secure the coveted election symbol for the faction led by V K Sasikala.
According to the prosecution, authorities recovered Rs 1.3 crore in cash from Chandrasekhar, purportedly aimed at influencing the ECI to favor the Sasikala-led faction in the allocation of the party’s symbol.
Despite the bail in this case, Chandrasekhar will remain incarcerated due to other pending legal matters against him. The court noted that his detention had exceeded seven years, prompting a mandatory release under the law, which caps the maximum period of imprisonment for the charged offenses.
Judge Gogne emphasized that the judicial system must act as a safeguard against the overreach of a police state. He referenced the Supreme Court’s stance on prioritizing bail over jail to uphold the value of liberty. The judge also pointed out that the delays in the trial could not be attributed to Chandrasekhar, especially as higher courts had stayed the proceedings.
The prosecution opposed the bail, highlighting the severity of the allegations and attributing the trial delays to Chandrasekhar’s legal maneuvers, including challenges to the charges and procedural delays instigated through appeals to the high court.
