Delhi High Court Upholds Auction of Conman Sukesh's Luxury Cars

The Delhi High Court has authorized the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to auction 26 high-end luxury cars bought with crime proceeds linked to alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekar. The decision, challenged by Chandrashekar’s wife Leena Paulose, was dismissed. The cars' proceeds will be kept in a fixed deposit until trial conclusion.

The Delhi High Court has confirmed an order allowing the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to auction 26 luxury cars allegedly bought with proceeds from crimes associated with suspected conman Sukesh Chandrashekar.

The court highlighted that vehicles naturally decay and depreciate over time, which affects their value and functionality. Therefore, the ED was instructed to place the auction proceeds in an interest-bearing fixed deposit.

Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma dismissed a plea by Chandrashekar's wife, Leena Paulose, who challenged the order giving the ED possession of the vehicles. The high court agreed with the trial court's decision that a representative of the Delhi Police or Economic Offences Wing can participate in the auction process. Vehicles left stationary for long periods undergo decay due to environmental factors, leading to issues like rust and mechanical deterioration, the court noted.

The high-end cars, which include Rolls Royce and Ferrari models, are expensive to maintain. The court pointed out that selling these vehicles and depositing the proceeds would prevent financial loss to the accused or the investigating agency, depending on the trial's outcome.

(With inputs from agencies.)