Sukash reportedly paid over Rs 12 crore to jail authorities for five-star facilities, which included a special barracks, a car inside the jail to bring guests, and access to mobile phones and internet.
Sukash Chandrasekaran was shifted from Jail No. 4 to Jail No. 1 after allegedly bribing three officials; (Photo: Getty Images)
IIn Delhi’s Rohini jail complex, Sukash was allotted an entire barrack (No. 204), which was usually shared by 15-20 inmates. He enjoyed many luxuries, including his own BMW car inside the prison to occasionally transport guests. The car reportedly had a sticker of Tihar Jail. He had facilities like air conditioning, smartphone and television while other prisoners washed his clothes and utensils. The CCTV cameras installed in his barracks were closed with curtains and mineral water bottle boxes. When he was out on interim bail in November 2020 to perform the last rites of his father, he reportedly remained out of jail for six months “under mysterious circumstances”.
These privileges came for a price. According to the charge sheet of Delhi Police, Deputy Jail Superintendent DS Meena used to extort Rs 60-75 lakh every fortnight from Sukash’s associates Deepak Ramnani and Pradeep Ramdani. The charge sheet quoted Meena’s confessional statement to the police that out of that money, about Rs 50 lakh was given to officers above the rank of assistant superintendent and Rs 10 lakh to officers below that rank. Meena allegedly took bribe 35 times.
After Sukash’s arrest in August 2021 in the Aditi Singh extortion case (in which he defrauded her of over Rs 200 crore), and then after an ED probe, he was sent to Tihar Jail. In February 2022, he was in the news again with fresh allegations of bribing three officials in Tihar Jail No. Then he was shifted to Jail No. Later, he and his wife Leena moved the Supreme Court, seeking transfer. Tihar Jail claimed threat to his life there. The top court ordered shifting of Mandoli Jail, which is only an extension of Tihar Jail. Sukash is now going to court and seeking transfer to jail under Tihar administration.
Meanwhile, the Economic Offenses Wing of Delhi Police has booked 81 employees of Rohini Jail on charges of corruption. Eight jail officials, including Meena, were arrested for helping Aditi Singh to Sukash.