Sukesh Chandrashekar argues against Jacquline's court plea seeking restraint against his letters

Alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekar has presented a defence against actress Jacquline Fernandes who approached the court seeking a restraint on Sukesh publishing letters written to her to the media. “I am also covered by Right to Expression and Freedom of Speech, even though I am incarcerated as per the law and the Constitution,” Sukesh’s application read. 

The Economics Offences Wings (EOW) characterised the letters as a method of intimidation of a witness which could have a bearing on the trial. 

Sukesh’s counsel however argued that the letters were being sent from 2022 and became an issue only after mid-2023 when she wanted an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) registered against her quashed and had to establish no connection with Sukesh in order to accomplish that. “The applicant was first made an accused by the ED (Enforcement Directorate) and thereafter the EOW surprisingly and selectively makes her a witness in their case, whereas other co-accused who are on a similar footing have been made accused. Thus the important question to be adjudicated is why the EOW has not made Jacqueline an accused in the case when there existed cogent evidence in the ED charge sheet against her and her role being much more than the other co accused in the case. On the relationship front, it’s an admitted fact from the applicant’s (Jacqueline) side, and also in her statements before the ED and EOW, which are on record. Her role as a witness in the EOW case is very limited and it’s not the fact that the case in 208/21 EOW stands only due to the testimony of Jacqueline, for which I am desperate to establish contact with her to withhold any truth in the criminal trial as alleged by her in the present application,” the application highlighted.