The Patiala House Court directed framing of charges against Sukesh Chandrasekhar, Leena Maria Paul, Jacqueline Fernandez and others in the Rs 200 crore extortion and money laundering case, holding that investigation materials disclosed sufficient grounds to proceed against the accused persons in the high-profile criminal matter.
The Patiala House Courts, Delhi directed the framing of charges against alleged conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar, his wife Leena Maria Paul, Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez, and several other accused in the high-profile Rs 200-crore extortion and money laundering case.
The order was passed by Additional Sessions Judge Prashant Sharma of the Patiala House Courts, who held that there was sufficient material on record to proceed against the accused under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The court also directed the framing of charges against Sukesh Chandrasekhar, Leena Maria Paul and several others in the separate case registered under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), arising from the alleged Rs 200-crore extortion racket. Jacqueline Fernandez, however, is not an accused in the extortion case and faces proceedings only in connection with the money laundering investigation.
While passing the order, the court observed that the material collected during the investigation disclosed sufficient grounds to proceed against the accused persons.
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While framing charges in the money laundering case ASJ Prashant Sharma said,
“I conclude that prima facie, there is sufficient material on record based upon which a strong suspicion is raised against all accused persons namely, Sukesh Chandrasekhar, Leena Maria Paul alias Leena Paulose, Deepak Ramnani, Pradeep Ramdanee, B. Mohanraj, Arun Muthu, D. Kamlesh Kothari, Pinky Irani, Jacqueline Fernandez, Pooja Singh, Dharam Singh Meena, Mahender Prasad Sundriyal, Sunder Bora, Komal Poddar (15) Jitender Narula, Avinash Kumar, Jai Prakash Singhal, for which said accused persons have to be charged with offence under section 3 of PMLA, punishable under section 4 of PMLA,”
The matter has now been listed for June 3, when the accused persons are required to appear physically before the court for the formal signing of charges.
Factual Backgrounds
The case traces its origins to a complaint filed by Aditi Singh, the wife of former pharmaceutical promoter Shivinder Mohan Singh. According to investigators, Sukesh Chandrasekhar allegedly posed as influential government officials and orchestrated an elaborate scheme to extort nearly Rs 200 crore from Singh while he was lodged in prison.
Following the registration of the extortion case by Delhi Police, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) initiated a separate investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, alleging that proceeds of crime generated through the extortion racket were laundered through multiple channels and beneficiaries.
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The ED’s probe revealed a complex network of financial transactions allegedly involving luxury purchases, high-value gifts, shell entities, and various associates connected to Sukesh Chandrasekhar.
Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez came under the scanner during the ED investigation after the agency alleged that she received expensive gifts and financial benefits from Sukesh Chandrasekhar despite being aware of his criminal background.
The Enforcement Directorate subsequently named Fernandez in a supplementary chargesheet filed before the trial court. After the court took cognisance of the chargesheet, summons were issued to her.
Fernandez later appeared before the court and was granted regular bail. She has consistently denied any involvement in criminal activity and has maintained that she was unaware of the alleged illegal origins of the funds and gifts linked to Chandrasekhar. Her efforts to challenge the supplementary chargesheet before the Delhi High Court were unsuccessful, with the High Court declining to quash the proceedings initiated against her.
Sukesh Chandrasekhar continues to remain in judicial custody in connection with multiple criminal cases. His wife, Leena Maria Paul, has secured bail in the money laundering case. However, her plea seeking bail in the MCOCA proceedings was rejected by the Delhi High Court. Several other accused persons connected to the case have also approached higher courts seeking relief, and their applications remain pending.
Investigators have alleged that Leena Maria Paul played an active role in handling funds and transactions linked to the proceeds of the alleged extortion racket.
In another notable development, Jacqueline Fernandez recently withdrew an application through which she had sought to become an approver in the money laundering case. The withdrawal came amid ongoing proceedings before the trial court and as the case moved closer to the stage of framing charges.
With the court now directing the framing of charges, the case enters a crucial phase of criminal prosecution. The formal framing and signing of charges will take place on June 3, after which the trial is expected to proceed with the examination of witnesses and presentation of evidence by the prosecution.
The case remains one of the most closely watched financial crime investigations in recent years, involving allegations of large-scale extortion, organised criminal activity, money laundering, and the alleged involvement of several high-profile individuals.
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