Jacqueline Fernandez Withdraws Plea to Become Approver in Sukesh Chandrashekhar Money Laundering Case
NEW DELHI — Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez has withdrawn her application seeking to become an approver in the Rs 200 crore money laundering case linked to alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar.
Fernandez withdrew the plea Tuesday before a Delhi court, a day after the Enforcement Directorate opposed her request in Patiala House Court. The agency argued 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 Section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The ED told the court that Fernandez did not fully cooperate with the investigation and “consistently failed to make full and truthful disclosures” about the alleged proceeds of crime generated by Chandrashekhar.
The agency also opposed her bid to become a prosecution witness, alleging that Fernandez remained in regular contact with Chandrashekhar even after learning about his criminal background.
According to investigators, Chandrashekhar arranged “all benefits, gifts and valuables” for Fernandez using proceeds from the alleged money laundering operation. The ED has accused the actor of receiving luxury gifts worth about Rs 7 crore from him.
Fernandez has maintained that she had no knowledge of Chandrashekhar’s alleged criminal activities or the source of the money used to buy the gifts.
In September, the Supreme Court declined to entertain Fernandez’s plea seeking to quash the money laundering proceedings against her.
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Fernandez before the Supreme Court, argued that she could not be prosecuted under Sections 3 and 4 of the PMLA because she did not know the gifts she received from Chandrashekhar were allegedly proceeds of crime.
The bench, led by Justice Dipankar Datta, referred to the Supreme Court’s judgment in the Vijay Madanlal Choudhary case, which upheld the ED’s powers under the PMLA. The court observed that allegations must be accepted as they stand at the stage of framing charges.
The ED has filed multiple chargesheets in the case and named Fernandez as an accused in a supplementary prosecution complaint. Bollywood actor Nora Fatehi was examined as a witness.
Investigators have alleged that Chandrashekhar’s aide Pinky Irani helped deliver luxury gifts and expensive items to Fernandez on his behalf.
The money laundering case stems from allegations that Chandrashekhar cheated the wives of former Ranbaxy promoters Shivinder Singh and Malvinder Singh of nearly Rs 200 crore.
Fernandez has denied any role in laundering Chandrashekhar’s alleged illegal wealth. (Source: IANS)
