Jacqueline Fernandez Withdraws Supreme Court Plea in Money Laundering Case
New Delhi — The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez to withdraw her petition challenging proceedings against her in a Rs 200 crore money laundering case linked to alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar.
A bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Joymalya Bagchi granted Fernandez permission to withdraw the special leave petition when the matter came up for hearing.
Fernandez had challenged a Delhi High Court order that declined to dismiss the Enforcement Directorate’s prosecution complaint and a trial court order framing charges against her under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The case was previously listed June 11 before Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Atul S. Chandurkar. Justice Mishra recused himself after disclosing that his son had represented the government in a related matter.
“In one of the connected matters, my son had appeared on behalf of the government. The case must therefore be placed before a different Bench,” Justice Mishra had observed, directing that the matter be listed before a Bench of which he was not a member.
The case was subsequently assigned to the bench of Justices Nagarathna and Bagchi.
Fernandez previously pleaded not guilty before a Delhi court and said she was prepared to face trial. Appearing before the Patiala House Court on June 3, she denied the charges and chose to contest the case on its merits.
The trial court also framed money laundering charges against Chandrashekhar, his wife, Leena Maria Paul, and 14 others. All pleaded not guilty and sought a trial.
Further proceedings before the trial court are scheduled for July 16.
Fernandez had earlier withdrawn an application seeking to become an approver in the case. The Enforcement Directorate opposed that request, arguing that her conduct during the investigation was “not satisfactory” and that she had failed to make a “full and true disclosure” in statements recorded under the money laundering law.
The agency alleges that Fernandez remained in contact with Chandrashekhar after learning of his criminal background and did not fully cooperate with its investigation into the alleged proceeds of crime.
Investigators have accused Fernandez of receiving luxury gifts worth about Rs 7 crore from Chandrashekhar. The actor has maintained that she did not know about his alleged criminal activities or the source of the funds used to purchase the gifts.
The money laundering investigation stems from allegations that Chandrashekhar defrauded the wives of former Ranbaxy promoters Shivinder Singh and Malvinder Singh of nearly Rs 200 crore. (Source: IANS)
