New Delhi,  The Delhi High Court has sought the response of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on a plea moved by jailed conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar alleging that the Tihar prison authorities have extorted around Rs 12.5 crore from him in the last two years.

Issuing notice in the writ petition, Justice Yogesh Khanna, in a recent order, directed the CBI to file a status report in this regard while posting the matter for the next hearing on August 5.

Talking to IANS, Sukesh's counsel Ashok K. Singh said: "A request has been made to CBI to probe into the matter. The matter in question is very serious in nature, which involves most senior Jail officers including the DG of Tihar jail, as they are involved in extortion racket run inside the jail thereby they threaten prisoners and extort money from their families members in the name of safety of the life and comfort inside the jail."

The plea contended, that in February, a probe has been ordered against three Tihar jail officials for allegedly receiving money from Chandrashekhar.

The matter was probed by Delhi Police Economic Offence Wing which later had recommended action against 82 jail officials, who allegedly helped him by providing him luxurious facilities inside the prison.

The 27-yr-old Chandrashekhar, a native of Bengaluru, faces 15 FIRs.

To lead a lavish lifestyle, he duped people of several crores in Bengaluru and Chennai.

Further, Chandrashekhar has, multiple times, claimed a threat to his life inside the prison.

In a handwritten complaint lodged at the Hari Nagar Police station on March 9, he alleged that the jail officials are threatening to kill him if he does not fulfill their demands.

Chandrashekhar was arrested last year for allegedly cheating and extorting money from some high-profile people, which includes former Fortis Healthcare promoter Shivinder Mohan Singh's wife Aditi Singh.

Bollywood actors and models have been questioned by the Enforcement Directorate for their alleged links to Chandrashekhar.

He is also accused of allegedly playing middleman to help TTV Dinkaran allegedly get the AIADMK party symbol Two Leaves for Rs 60 crore in 2017.