Delhi HC rejects Jacqueline Fernandez's plea in Rs 200 crore money laundering case

The Delhi High Court on Thursday dismissed actor Jacqueline Fernandez’s petition seeking to nullify the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) money laundering case against her. The case pertains to the alleged Rs 200 crore fraud involving jailed conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar.

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Justice Anish Dayal rejected the Bollywood actor’s plea that aimed to quash the ED’s prosecution complaint and a second supplementary chargesheet under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. The proceedings in the case are currently underway in a trial court in Delhi.

Jacqueline Fernandez had approached the High Court arguing that she was misled and manipulated by Sukesh Chandrasekhar and had no involvement in any financial wrongdoing. She claimed she was neither in possession of criminal proceeds nor played any role in laundering funds. Her legal team also emphasized that the complaint filed by Aditi Singh, wife of former Ranbaxy promoter Shivinder Singh, did not accuse her of aiding or abetting Sukesh in any manner.

However, the ED opposed the petition, stating that a special court had already taken cognisance of the charges against her, and that order had not been challenged. Therefore, the ED argued, the High Court petition lacked legal grounds for admission.

Sukesh Chandrasekhar, along with his wife Leena Paulose, has been accused of masterminding a large-scale fraud and laundering the money through shell firms and hawala networks. Both are also facing charges under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). Investigations are ongoing in multiple jurisdictions involving similar financial crimes linked to the couple.