Jailed conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar has been sentenced to eight years of rigorous imprisonment by a Delhi court for impersonating a sitting Supreme Court judge and attempting to influence a judicial officer in a bid to secure bail in another criminal case. The sentencing order was passed by Chief Judicial Magistrate Harshita Mishra of the Tis Hazari Courts.
The court had earlier convicted Chandrasekhar under Sections 170, 189 and 507 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The offences relate to impersonating a public servant, threatening a public servant and criminal intimidation through anonymous communication.
How Sukesh Chandrasekhar Tried to Influence the Case
The case dates back to 2017, when Chandrasekhar was facing a corruption-related criminal case. According to the prosecution and court findings, he made calls to judicial officer Poonam Choudhary, who was handling proceedings connected to his case.
Chandrasekhar allegedly first presented himself as the private secretary of a Supreme Court judge and later impersonated the judge himself. He attempted to create the impression that the caller was a senior judicial authority and sought to influence the proceedings concerning his bail.
The court found the prosecution's case proved to the required criminal standard and convicted Chandrasekhar on August 20, 2026.
Eight-Year Sentence to Run Consecutively
The court imposed separate sentences for the three offences. Chandrasekhar received two years of rigorous imprisonment and a ₹5,000 fine under Section 170, another two years and a ₹5,000 fine under Section 189, and four years of rigorous imprisonment under Section 507.
Importantly, the court ordered the substantive sentences to run consecutively, bringing the total sentence to eight years rather than allowing the terms to overlap. The court also directed that the period already spent in custody be set off against the sentence.
Court Says Attempt Was a Serious Attack on Judicial Process
While delivering the sentence, the court emphasised the seriousness of attempting to manipulate the administration of justice. It said the punishment needed to reflect the deliberate nature of the acts and provide a deterrent against attempts to interfere with public institutions.
The court also noted that Chandrasekhar had not demonstrated genuine remorse during the proceedings. His conduct, including allegations directed at the credibility of the judicial officer involved in the case, was considered while determining the sentence.
Sukesh Chandrasekhar's Legal Troubles
The latest conviction adds another chapter to Chandrasekhar's long-running legal troubles. He is already facing multiple criminal and financial cases and has remained in custody in connection with other proceedings.
Chandrasekhar has also been associated with a high-profile ₹200-crore money laundering case, which brought him into the public spotlight because of allegations and controversies involving Bollywood personalities including Jacqueline Fernandez and Nora Fatehi.
The latest eight-year sentence, however, relates specifically to the impersonation and intimidation case and should not be confused with his separate money-laundering proceedings.
