Jacqueline Fernandez Appeals to Delhi High Court for the Cancellation of Money Laundering1 Case
Jacqueline Fernandez Appeals to Delhi High Court for the Cancellation of Money Laundering Case
In a recent legal move, Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez has approached the Delhi High Court, seeking the dismissal of a money laundering case filed against her by the Enforcement Directorate. Fernandez is challenging the complaint and supplementary chargesheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate, naming her as an accused in the Rs 200 crore extortion case involving conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar.
The petition highlights that in the case registered by Delhi Police, Fernandez is depicted as a “prosecution witness,” suggesting a favorable conclusion in her favor. The argument is that this portrayal supports the claim that she had no knowledge of the predicate offence committed by the main accused, Sukesh Chandrashekhar, and his associates.
The plea asserts that Jacqueline Fernandez did not engage in any money laundering offence as defined by the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2020, and was not in possession of proceeds of crime. It further contends that the complaint by Aditi Singh, the wife of former Ranbaxy owner Shivinder Singh, does not allege that Fernandez actively aided or abetted Sukesh Chandrashekhar in committing the alleged offences.
Sukesh Chandrashekhar, currently incarcerated at Tihar Jail in Delhi, is accused of extorting over Rs 200 crore from Aditi Singh between June 2020 and May 2021.
Jacqueline Fernandez’s plea in the Delhi High Court argues that the evidence presented by the Enforcement Directorate unequivocally establishes her as an “innocent victim” of Sukesh Chandrashekhar’s targeted attack. The plea refers to the Enforcement Directorate’s case, which acknowledges Chandrashekhar’s use of deceptive tactics, including making a spoofed call and impersonating a high-ranking government official to contact Jacqueline’s makeup artist.
Fernandez also alleges that another accused in the case, Pinky Irani, pushed her towards Sukesh Chandrashekhar with the intention of fostering a relationship. The plea claims that during the investigation, it became apparent that Pinky Irani was offered Rs 2 crore to introduce Jacqueline to Chandrashekhar.
The petition further outlines that while Jacqueline Fernandez never denied receiving gifts from Sukesh Chandrashekhar, she openly disclosed the complete list of articles she had received. Fernandez argues that throughout their interactions, Chandrashekhar presented himself as a free man, and she had no way of knowing about his incarceration, as he consistently appeared in video calls wearing luxurious branded clothing.
Jacqueline Fernandez contends that the Enforcement Directorate’s case against her is based on “surmises and assumptions.”
Continuing her legal defense, Jacqueline Fernandez maintains that the Enforcement Directorate’s case is founded on “surmises and assumptions.” The actor emphasizes the deceptive nature of Sukesh Chandrashekhar’s tactics, pointing to a WhatsApp chat between Pinky Irani and herself, which revealed Irani’s falsehoods regarding Chandrashekhar’s identity.
According to Fernandez’s plea, Pinky Irani intentionally misled her about Sukesh Chandrashekhar’s true identity, sharing images of him seemingly leading a lavish lifestyle. The petition contends that Irani lied about Chandrashekhar’s status, showing him in private jets and portraying him as a free man. It further alleges that Irani, another accused in the case, played a role in connecting Fernandez with Chandrashekhar.
Jacqueline Fernandez states that she was unaware of Chandrashekhar’s incarceration, as he consistently presented himself as a person at liberty during their video calls. The plea argues that the Enforcement Directorate’s case disregards these circumstances and is built on presumptions rather than concrete evidence.
Additionally, Fernandez asserts that the investigation has revealed the extent of Chandrashekhar’s manipulation, including the offer of Rs 2 crore to Pinky Irani to facilitate an introduction. The petition contends that Fernandez, being unaware of these behind-the-scenes dealings, cannot be held responsible for the alleged money laundering offences.
In light of these arguments, Jacqueline Fernandez implores the Delhi High Court to dismiss the money laundering case against her, maintaining her innocence and positioning herself as a victim of manipulation orchestrated by Sukesh Chandrashekhar. The legal proceedings are closely watched as the actor seeks justice and strives to clear her name in the ongoing legal battle.
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