Sukesh Chandrasekhar gets eight years jail

On August 29, a Delhi court sentenced Sukesh Chandrasekhar to eight years of rigorous imprisonment for impersonating a Supreme Court judge and attempting to sway a bail decision in another criminal proceeding. Chief Judicial Magistrate Harshita Mishra imposed the sentence, which included two years in strict confinement and a fine of Rs 5,000 under Section 170 of the IPC, followed by another two years and Rs 5,000 under Section 189, and four years in strict confinement and a Rs 5,000 fine under Section 507.

The court emphasized that the sentence should convey that the criminal justice system distinguishes between isolated unlawful acts and deliberate attempts to manipulate, intimidate, or interfere with the functioning of public institutions. All three charges would be served consecutively, resulting in a total of eight years behind bars.

If Chandrasekhar fails to pay the fines, an additional month's imprisonment will be imposed. The court convicted Chandrasekhar on August 20 under IPC Sections 170, 189, and 507, which pertain to impersonation and threats. According to the court, Chandrasekhar made multiple calls on April 28, 2017, impersonating a Supreme Court judge from South India with a regional accent to influence a judicial proceeding regarding his own liberty in another criminal case.

The court found the impersonation not accidental but a deliberate attempt to exploit the credibility associated with a constitutional position. The court rejected the argument that the unsuccessful impersonation attempt should be considered a mitigating factor, stating that the unsuccessful act did not make the impersonation harmless.

The court also noted Chandrasekhar's lack of remorse during the trial, pointing out that he questioned the credibility of the judicial officer instead. Recognizing the potential for sophisticated impersonation in today's digital age, the court emphasized the need for a deterrent sentence to protect public confidence in the justice system.