Enforcement Directorate sought time to reply to plea by Jacqueline Fernandez in money laundering case linked to Sukesh Chandrashekar. Court adjourned hearing before Special Judge Prashant Sharma to May 8.
The Enforcement Directorate sought additional time to submit its reply to a plea filed by actress Jacqueline Fernandez. In her application, Fernandez asked to be allowed to turn approver in a Rs 200 crore money laundering case linked to alleged fraudster Sukesh Chandrashekar.
Earlier, on April 17 the court asked the ED to respond and scheduled the matter for hearing again on April 20.But today, Special Judge Prashant Sharma posted the matter for further hearing on May 8.
Earlier she moved a Delhi court seeking permission to be treated as an approver in the alleged Rs 200 crore money laundering case involving Sukesh Chandrasekhar. The court issued notice to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on her plea.
Her application intended to potentially reshape the trial in the high-profile extortion matter was filed through counsel before special judge Prashant Sharma at the Patiala House courts. The counsel also informed the court that a separate application had been submitted to the ED.
Backgrounds:
According to the ED, based on a Delhi Police FIR from August 2021, Sukesh Chandrasekhar and his associates allegedly extorted Rs 200 crore from complainant Aditi Singh the wife of former Ranbaxy promoter Shivender Singh during 2020 and 2021. The ED alleges that Chandrasekhar’s group impersonated a top central government official to arrange for Singh’s release on bail.
The ED also named Fernandez as an accused in its supplementary prosecution complaint dated August 17, 2022, claiming she held proceeds of crime exceeding Rs 7 crore in the form of gifted articles.
Jacqueline’s counsel have consistently maintained that she was not aware of Chandrasekhar’s alleged criminal activities and, therefore, there was no criminal intent.
The ED stated in its charge sheet that the extorted money was laundered through a network of shell companies and transactions, with part of the funds purportedly used to purchase luxury gifts and assets.
On July 3 last year, the Delhi High Court rejected her petition seeking to quash the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) in the money laundering matter. Two months later, the Supreme Court declined to interfere with the high court’s decision.
The original charge sheet named eight people, including Chandrasekhar as the prime accused and intermediary Pinky Irani, through whom Chandrasekhar allegedly contacted the actress. With Fernandez included, the total number of accused becomes nine.
Jacqueline was granted bail in 2022, after the court observed that it still needed to be examined whether she had knowledge, intention, or any connection to Chandrasekhar allegedly giving her gifts out of proceeds of crime.
The Delhi Police case, filed under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crimes Act (MCOCA), is being investigated by the Delhi Police Special Cell.
Of 31 cases against Chandrasekhar, he has obtained bail in 27.
If the court grants the request, Fernandez would become a prosecution witness and would be required to disclose all relevant facts about the case and the co-accused, in return for a pardon or a lesser punishment.
At present, the trial has not yet begun. The case is at the stage of arguments on the point of charge.
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