The Delhi HC has dismissed actress Jacqueline Fernandez’s plea to quash a money laundering case filed by the Enforcement Directorate. Fernandez is accused of receiving gifts worth Rs 7.2 crore from conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar, which the ED claims are proceeds of crime. Trial proceedings will continue.
The Delhi High Court has rejected Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez’s plea seeking to quash the money laundering case filed against her by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The decision, delivered by Justice Anish Dayal, means that Fernandez will continue to face trial proceedings in connection with the case, which falls under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA).
The court had earlier reserved its verdict in April after hearing arguments from Fernandez’s legal representative, senior advocate Sidharth Aggarwal, and ED’s special counsel Zoheb Hossain. On Thursday, the court declined to intervene with the ongoing trial, stating that the prosecution’s complaint held enough grounds to proceed.
Background of the Case
The ED has been probing the alleged money laundering activities linked to conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar, who is accused of duping individuals of vast sums of money while imprisoned. Jacqueline Fernandez has been named in the ED’s second supplementary charge sheet as an accused under Sections 3 and 4 of the PMLA. The actress, however, has consistently denied any wrongdoing or direct involvement in aiding Chandrashekhar in laundering money.
She argued before the court that she should not be prosecuted under the said sections of the anti-money laundering law and maintained that any association with Chandrashekhar was unwitting and lacked any criminal intent.
Despite these assertions, the ED has maintained that several assets, including gifts and fixed deposits worth Rs 7.2 crore received by Fernandez, were proceeds of crime. These assets were attached by the agency as part of its investigation. According to the ED, Chandrashekhar used intermediaries like Pinky Irani to deliver these expensive gifts to the actress.
ED’s Allegations and Investigative Progress
The ED had initially filed a charge sheet in December 2021 and subsequently filed supplementary charge sheets, including one against Pinky Irani, an alleged close aide of Chandrashekhar. Irani is said to have played a key role in introducing Bollywood celebrities to the conman and facilitating his gifting spree.
The probe agency has alleged that Chandrashekhar spent around Rs 20 crore on various Bollywood celebrities and models. While some celebrities reportedly declined his gifts, Fernandez allegedly accepted expensive items, including luxury bags, designer clothing, and jewelry. These gifts, the ED claims, were financed through illicitly acquired funds.
In addition to Jacqueline Fernandez, Bollywood actress Nora Fatehi has also been questioned by the ED. Both actresses have recorded statements as witnesses, although Fernandez has now been formally named as an accused.
Jacqueline Fernandez: From Beauty Queen to Bollywood Star
Jacqueline Fernandez is a Sri Lankan actress who has been active in Indian cinema for over a decade. Born in Bahrain and raised in a multicultural environment, she pursued a degree in mass communication from the University of Sydney before entering the entertainment industry.
In 2006, Fernandez was crowned Miss Universe Sri Lanka and went on to represent her country at the Miss Universe pageant the same year. Since then, she has carved out a successful career in Bollywood, appearing in numerous films, music videos, and reality television shows.
Despite her career accomplishments, the ongoing legal battle has cast a shadow over her public image, with her name frequently appearing in headlines related to the high-profile money laundering case.
What Lies Ahead
With the Delhi High Court refusing to quash the case, Jacqueline Fernandez must now face the legal process as it unfolds. The Enforcement Directorate’s case is expected to proceed in the trial court, where evidence and testimonies will be closely scrutinized.
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Legal experts say that the case highlights the ED’s increasing focus on tracing financial links in high-profile social circles and cracking down on recipients of allegedly laundered money, even if they are not directly involved in the core criminal acts.
The matter remains under judicial consideration, and the final outcome will depend on how convincingly each side can establish their case during the trial.
