Two cameras, constant surveillance: Sukesh Chandrashekhar to Supreme Court while seeking transfer to jail outside Delhi

The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to the Delhi government on a plea moved by alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar seeking transfer to a different prison from the Mandoli jail where he is currently lodged in a money laundering case [Sukesh Chandrashekhar @ Sukesh and Another v. State of NCT of Delhi]..Chandrashekhar said he has been put under surveillance with two cameras watching him in order to pressurise him to withdraw his complaints and that he was receiving threatening messages."I am being watched by 2 cameras and people around me are there with body cameras continuously monitoring and taking note of my transactions. How can anybody live like this? This is violation of my right to life under Article 21," Chandrashekhar's counsel PS Patwalia submitted.A division bench of Justices Bela Trivedi and Pankaj Mithal initially appeared reluctant to entertain the plea."You are an accused. How you can seek transfer?" Justice Trivedi asked at the outset of the hearing. .In response, Patwalia said that Chandrashekhar had earlier made allegations of extortion in Tihar jail and the Court had allowed his plea for transfer from there to Mandoli while his complaint was being investigated. It was further submitted that, on his complaint, Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena has now recommended a probe by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against former minister Satyendra Jain.On his apprehension of life threat, the Senior Counsel submitted that Dhananjay Rawat, against whom also Chandrashekhar had made allegations earlier, has now been posted as the Jail Superintendent at Mandoli. "Transfer me anywhere in the country, except Punjab and Delhi where this AAP [Aam Aadmi Party] is not there," Chandrashekhar's counsel submitted. .The Court was further told Chandrashekhar has been put under surveillance."I have threat to my life. I am living with two cameras directed towards my body. This is not how a person can live. I am being pressurised to withdraw my complaint," Patwalia argued.However, the Court questioned how the allegations were related to the new jail superintendent. "These are threatening calls received by your mother. Even if you are transferred, how will this change," Justice Trivedi asked.Patwalia insisted that there was a threat to Chandrashekhar's life at Mandoli jail..Even as the Court observed that the cameras were for his safety only, it proceeded to issue notice to the State and jail authorities in the matter. .Chandrashekhar is currently in custody in cases alleging cheating, extortion and money-laundering .In July 2022, the Court had asked him to reveal the names of Tihar jail officials to whom he made payments amounting to over ₹12.5 crores to secure a lavish lifestyle inside the jail. He was transferred to Mandoli jail pursuant to an order passed by the top court in August 2022..[Read Live Coverage]