Sukesh Chandrashekhar, often dubbed India’s “millionaire conman,” is a figure whose audacious scams, lavish lifestyle, and rumored connections with Bollywood stars have kept him in the headlines for over a decade. Born in Bengaluru, Karnataka, Sukesh transformed from a middle-class teenager with dreams of wealth into a master manipulator, orchestrating multi-crore frauds that targeted politicians, business tycoons, and celebrities. His ability to impersonate high-ranking officials and run extortion rackets from inside Delhi’s Tihar Jail has made him a symbol of cunning and controversy. As of April 8, 2025, Sukesh remains incarcerated, yet his story continues to captivate, blending crime, glamour, and deception.
Early Life and Background
Sukesh Chandrashekhar was born in 1989 in Bhawani Nagar, Bengaluru, into a lower-middle-class family. His father, Vijayan Chandrashekhar, worked as a part-time contractor, while details about his mother remain scarce. Growing up, Sukesh displayed an early fascination with luxury cars and a lavish lifestyle, dreams that clashed with his modest circumstances. He attended Bishop Cotton Boys’ School in Bengaluru for primary education and later enrolled at Madurai University, but academics never held his interest. A class 10 dropout, Sukesh’s ambition to become a millionaire drove him to the world of crime by age 17.
His teenage years were marked by a passion for fast cars and organizing car races, often using forged documents to bypass legal restrictions. In 2006, he allegedly forged the Bengaluru police commissioner’s signature to obtain a certificate allowing him to drive despite being a minor. This early act of deception foreshadowed the elaborate cons that would define his life.
Rise to Infamy
Sukesh’s criminal career began in 2007, at just 17, when he duped a family friend of ₹1.5 crore by posing as a friend of a senior politician’s son. This first arrest set the tone for a spree of frauds that spanned Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai, and Delhi. Over the years, he conned over 100 people, amassing crores by promising government jobs, properties, or political favors. His charisma and ability to impersonate officials—ranging from bureaucrats to Supreme Court judges—made him a formidable conman.
By 2015, Sukesh had moved to Mumbai, where he floated a Ponzi scheme through his company, King Investment, defrauding investors of ₹19.5 crore. His arrest that year by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) did little to deter him. Released on bail, he continued his scams, culminating in his most audacious act: a ₹200-crore extortion racket run from Tihar Jail between 2020 and 2021. Using spoofing apps and voice modulation software, Sukesh posed as government officials to extort money, living like a “king” in jail with an entire barrack to himself and access to mobile phones.
Girlfriends and Rumored Relationships
Sukesh Chandrashekhar’s personal life, particularly his romantic entanglements, has been as headline-grabbing as his crimes. He is married to Leena Maria Paul, a Malayalam actress known for small roles in films like Madras Cafe (2013). The couple met around 2010, and their relationship deepened despite Sukesh’s criminal record. They married in 2015, but their partnership extended beyond romance—Leena was arrested alongside Sukesh in multiple cases, including the 2011 Canara Bank fraud and the 2015 Ponzi scheme. Reports suggest Leena was drawn to Sukesh’s lavish gifts and lifestyle, even allegedly assisting in his cons, though she maintained her innocence.
The most publicized of Sukesh’s rumored relationships was with Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez. Between 2020 and 2021, while in Tihar Jail, Sukesh allegedly contacted Jacqueline, posing as a high-ranking official and later as “Shekhar Ratna Vela,” claiming ties to J. Jayalalithaa’s political family and ownership of Sun TV. He showered her with extravagant gifts, including three Gucci and Chanel bags, two Gucci gym outfits, a pair of Louis Vuitton shoes, two pairs of diamond earrings, a multi-colored stone bracelet, two Hermes bracelets, and a Mini Cooper (which she returned). Other gifts reportedly included a horse worth ₹52 lakh, four Persian cats, and a vineyard in France. A viral mirror selfie of Sukesh kissing Jacqueline on the cheek fueled speculation, though Jacqueline denied any romantic involvement, stating she was a victim of his deception and cooperated with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) as a witness.
Sukesh also claimed connections with other actresses, including Nora Fatehi, whom he allegedly tried to gift a BMW, later given to her relative. Actresses Chahatt Khanna, Nikki Tamboli, and Sophia Singh were named in ED chargesheets, with allegations that Sukesh sent them gifts or attempted to lure them into his schemes. Pinky Irani, a former TV anchor, reportedly facilitated introductions to these actresses while Sukesh was in jail. In 2023, Sukesh sent a ₹100-crore legal notice to Chahatt Khanna, claiming her public statements damaged his reputation, a move widely seen as another publicity stunt. Despite his claims, most actresses denied romantic ties, asserting they were unaware of his criminal background.
Conning Famous Personalities, Politicians, and Businesspersons
Sukesh Chandrashekhar’s scams were as bold as they were diverse, targeting the elite with tailored deceptions. Here are some notable examples:
- Aditi Singh (Businesswoman): Between June 2020 and May 2021, Sukesh extorted ₹215 crore from Aditi Singh, wife of former Ranbaxy promoter Shivinder Singh, while in Tihar Jail. Posing as officials like the Law Secretary or Home Minister’s representative, he used spoofed calls to convince Aditi he could secure her husband’s bail. He manipulated her with promises of PMO involvement, extracting payments under the guise of “party funds” or legal fees, all while assuring her of government surveillance to maintain trust.
- TTV Dhinakaran (Politician): In 2017, Sukesh was arrested for allegedly conning AIADMK leader TTV Dhinakaran of ₹50 crore. Posing as a middleman with Election Commission connections, he promised to secure the AIADMK’s “two leaves” symbol for Dhinakaran’s faction after J. Jayalalithaa’s death. Sukesh’s assurances of bribing officials fell apart when the deal failed, leading to his arrest by Delhi Police’s Crime Branch.
- Emmanuel Silks (Business): Sukesh duped Kochi-based Emmanuel Silks MD TO Baiju of ₹20 lakh by promising to bring Katrina Kaif for a promotional event in Kottayam. Instead, he delivered Telugu actor Allu Arjun, pocketing the advance after gaining Baiju’s trust with his polished demeanor.
- Politicians and Bureaucrats: Sukesh frequently posed as relatives of prominent politicians, including the grandson of a former chief minister or the nephew of Y.S.R. Reddy and B.S. Yeddyurappa. He conned over 100 people by promising government jobs or land deals, leveraging forged documents and his persuasive charm to extract crores.
His methods often involved impersonation, spoofed calls, and creating a sense of urgency, pushing victims to transfer money to shell accounts before vanishing. His ability to operate from jail, bribing officials for phones and privacy, amplified his reach, making him a unique figure in India’s criminal landscape.
Legal Battles and Current Status
Sukesh remains in Mandoli Jail, Delhi, facing over 30 cases investigated by Delhi Police, the ED, CBI, and Income Tax Department. In July 2024, the Bombay High Court granted him bail in a 2015 fraud case, but he stays incarcerated due to pending charges, including the ₹200-crore money laundering case. In January 2025, he wrote to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, claiming a ₹22,410-crore overseas income from gaming ventures and offering to pay ₹7,640 crore in taxes, a move dismissed as another publicity stunt. He also offered $2 billion to Elon Musk for X and OpenAI, further showcasing his flair for spectacle.
Personal Traits and Public Perception
Sukesh, standing at 5 feet 10 inches with black hair and eyes, projects confidence and charm, traits that made him a master manipulator. His love for luxury—evident in his fleet of 26 seized cars, including Ferraris and Porsches—contrasts with his current jail-bound reality. Publicly, he’s both vilified as a criminal and romanticized as a cunning anti-hero, with his Bollywood connections fueling tabloid frenzy.
Legacy and Impact
Sukesh Chandrashekhar’s story is a cautionary tale of ambition gone awry, blending audacity with deception. His scams exposed vulnerabilities in India’s legal and jail systems, while his rumored ties to Bollywood added a layer of intrigue. Whether he’s remembered as a conman or a charismatic trickster, Sukesh’s saga remains a gripping chapter in India’s crime history.
Top Ten Interesting Facts About Sukesh Chandrashekhar
- Teenage Conman: Began scamming at 17, duping a family friend of ₹1.5 crore in 2007.
- Jail Kingpin: Ran a ₹200-crore extortion racket from Tihar Jail, living in a private barrack.
- Bollywood Rumors: Linked to Jacqueline Fernandez, gifting her luxury items like a horse and Persian cats.
- Married to Leena Paul: Wed actress Leena Maria Paul in 2015, who was arrested with him in multiple cases.
- Car Obsession: Owned 26 luxury cars, including Ferraris, seized by the ED in 2024.
- Politician Scam: Conned TTV Dhinakaran of ₹50 crore by promising Election Commission favors.
- Spoofing Master: Used voice modulation and spoofed calls to impersonate officials like the Home Secretary.
- Bail Houdini: Secured bail multiple times, including in a 2015 fraud case in 2024, but remains jailed.
- Publicity Stunts: Offered $2 billion to Elon Musk and ₹7,640 crore in taxes to Nirmala Sitharaman in 2025.
- Katrina Kaif Ploy: Duped a businessman of ₹20 lakh by promising Katrina Kaif for an event, delivering Allu Arjun instead.
Comments
Post a Comment