Sukesh Chandrashekar, who gained infamy following his arrest in a multi-crore fraud case in 2015, has submitted an appeal to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, seeking permission to declare his overseas income for the financial year 2024-2025 under relevant government schemes.

In a detailed letter addressed to the minister, Chandrashekar disclosed his ownership of two international businesses—LS Holdings International, based in Nevada, USA, and Speed Gaming Corporation, registered in the British Virgin Islands. Both companies are engaged in the online and offline gaming and betting industries. According to Chandrashekar, these enterprises have been operational since 2016 and reported a combined turnover of $2.70 billion in 2024.

Chandrashekar’s appeal highlights his willingness to comply with Indian regulations concerning foreign income and assets, signalling an attempt to regularise his financial affairs.

The letter further reveals that the business operations of LS Holdings International and Speed Gaming Corporation are active in several countries, including the United States, Spain, the United Kingdom, Dubai and Hong Kong. Chandrashekar also expressed his readiness to resolve all pending income tax recovery proceedings and appeals against him in India.

In a significant move, he declared his willingness to pay Rs 7,640 crore in taxes on his overseas income for the year 2024. Additionally, Chandrashekar proposed to reinvest this income in India, specifically in the fields of technology and advanced online skill gaming businesses, signalling his intent to contribute to the nation’s economic growth.

Sukesh Chandrashekar, a notorious conman, is alleged to have orchestrated a massive extortion racket, swindling hundreds of crores of rupees from affluent individuals, including high-profile personalities and business figures, under various pretences.

In addition to being the prime accused in a Rs 200-crore money laundering case currently under investigation by the Enforcement Directorate, Chandrashekar is also implicated in multiple other cases being probed by the Delhi Police’s Economic Offences Wing and other investigative agencies. These cases underscore the wide-reaching nature of his alleged fraudulent activities.

The Enforcement Directorate’s case against Sukesh Chandrashekar involves allegations that he duped the spouses of former Ranbaxy promoters, Shivinder Singh and Malvinder Singh, of Rs 200 crore. Sukesh, along with his wife Leena Maria Paul, is facing proceedings in the money laundering case registered by the Enforcement Directorate. Both were previously arrested by the Delhi Police along with others involved in the racket.

Sukesh was also rumoured to have been in a relationship with actress Jacqueline Fernandez. While the actress has consistently denied any romantic involvement with him, she is an accused in the case and has been questioned by the Enforcement Directorate on multiple occasions.