New Delhi, September 22: The Supreme Court on Monday denied relief to Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez in the ₹200-crore money laundering case linked to alleged conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar, dismissing her petition challenging an earlier Delhi High Court order.
Fernandez had moved the apex court after the Delhi High Court, on July 3, refused to quash the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) FIR against her. In her plea, the actress argued that she was a victim of Sukesh’s targeted fraud and highlighted that the ED itself had admitted to jail authorities providing Sukesh access to mobile phones and devices from which he allegedly conned multiple individuals, including her.
She further contended that since she is a prosecution witness in the predicate offence, further proceedings against her should not stand. However, the courts maintained that issues relating to her intent and knowledge of Sukesh’s activities can only be determined during trial.
The ED has accused Fernandez of accepting luxury gifts worth nearly ₹7 crore from Sukesh, who allegedly duped the spouses of former Ranbaxy promoters Shivinder Singh and Malvinder Singh of ₹200 crore. The actress, however, has consistently denied any wrongdoing, stating she was unaware of Sukesh’s criminal background.
