New Delhi: Not only did conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar, currently lodged at Tihar Jail in Delhi, spoof Home Minister Amit Shah’s official number, he also allegedly introduced himself as ‘Abhinav’, an officer on special duty at the Office of the Prime Minister (PMO).
Notably, it is alleged that Sukesh extorted over Rs 200 crore from Aditi Singh, wife of former Ranbaxy owner Shivinder Singh, between June 2020 and May 2021. The case is being probed by the Enforcement Directorate.
Now, India Today has accessed the transcript of an ED interrogation, dated October 22, with Sukesh Chandrashekhar and Aditi Singh’s sister Arundhati Khanna.
During the interrogation, Arundhati Khanna alleged that Sukesh Chandrashekhar introduced himself as ‘Abhinav’, an officer on special duty at the Office of the Prime Minister (PMO). “He also claimed to have the Income Tax Department, the Intelligence Bureau and law portfolios under him. He was claimed he was on special deputation at the PMO to coordinate with selected families,” she was quoted as saying by India Today.
During the investigation, Sukesh Chandrashekhar admitted that he introduced himself as ‘Abhinav’ to her. The conman used the ‘spoofing’ technique to make several calls to Aditi Singh, who was desperate to secure bail for her arrested husband. Sukesh used this as an opportunity to make money by posing as government officials. All the while he was sitting in jail himself.
Arundhati Khanna got involved in the case by chance as she was often in the room when her sister was speaking to Sukesh Chandrashekhar, regarding bail for her husband, Arundhati Khanna told the ED.
“He asked to be put on speaker so he could convince us [to pay money] when she (Aditi) said that her family questions such large amounts being given at such frequency right in the middle of the pandemic,” she was quoted as saying.
Sukesh Chandrashekhar told ED that he started speaking to Arundhati Khanna to ask how her sister Aditi Singh was when she was summoned by the ED in June 2021. He also told the ED that Arundhati Khanna would ask him for favours related to her son’s drunk-driving case and other personal court cases. She denied all his claims.
India Today accessed the transcript in which conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar held that “there was never any threat or extortion” in his interaction with Arundhati Khanna. “She considered me her brother,” he said.
“He was always impressing upon me the urgency in helping my sister arrange funds and the dire consequences our family would face if we failed to do so. He threatened us with raids and government action,” Arundhati Khanna was quoted as saying.
