Jacqueline Fernandez files plea seeking relief in money laundering case

Actress Jacqueline Fernandez is again in the news for her alleged involvement in Sukesh Chandrashekhar’s money laundering case. After the Delhi High Court rejected her plea to quash the case against her, she has now approached the Supreme Court seeking relief. The hearing is scheduled for September 22.

Jacqueline Fernandez moves SC

As per India Today reports, a bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and Augustine George Masih will hear the actress’ plea on September 22. The ED’s chargesheet, filed on August 17, 2022, claims Fernandez continued to accept lavish gifts from Chandrashekhar despite being aware of his criminal activities. The agency alleged that she concealed receipts related to the crime and even deleted data from her phone to hide evidence. The ED stated, “Fernandez admitted it after confrontation,” highlighting their suspicions about her involvement.

In her petition filed in the Delhi High Court, the actor not only requested the dismissal of the ED case but also challenged the lower court`s order to take note of the chargesheet filed against her. The ED claimed Fernandez failed to verify claims made by Chandrashekhar while searching about him online. It also submitted that Fernandez admitted to deleting data from her mobile phone after learning of Chandrashekhar`s arrest.

About Jacqueline and the Sukesh case

Jacqueline Fernandez has been in the news since 2022 for her alleged connection to a Rs 200-crore money laundering case, for which conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar is serving a jail term in Delhi. Even from jail, he continued to write letters to the actress and spent lavishly on her. While she has always asserted that she was unaware of such activities, she has been under scrutiny for receiving expensive gifts from him.

In July, the Delhi High Court turned down a plea filed by Fernandez seeking to quash the money laundering case registered against her by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). Fernandez argued that she should not be prosecuted under Sections 3 and 4 of the anti-money laundering law. The ED had filed a second supplementary charge sheet naming her as an accused.

She and another Bollywood personality, Nora Fatehi, have recorded their statements as witnesses in the case. Earlier, assets and fixed deposits worth Rs 7.2 crore belonging to Fernandez were attached by the ED, which termed these gifts and properties as “proceeds” of crime received by the actor.

The ED had filed its first supplementary charge sheet against Pinky Irani, an alleged aide of Chandrashekhar, who introduced him to Bollywood stars. It was alleged in the charge sheet that Pinky used to select expensive gifts for Fernandez and deliver them to her residence after Chandrashekhar made the payments. Reportedly, Chandrashekhar has spent around Rs 20 crore on different models and Bollywood celebrities.