Jacqueline Fernandez Accused In Sukesh Chandrashekhar Money Laundering Case

Initially named as a witness in the case, the Enforcement Directorate had decided to name actor Jacqueline Fernandez as one of the accused in the ongoing Sukesh Chandrashekhar money laundering case.

The agency has been investigating the case based on a First Information Report (FIR) filed by the Delhi police’s Economic Offences Wing against conman Chandrashekhar and others. They are accused of criminal conspiracy, cheating, and extortion of money worth Rs 200 crores.

Jacqueline was first questioned by the ED back in August last year as a witness in the case and was alleged to be a victim of the racket. The ED alleged that Chandrasekhar, who was arrested in 2017 for attempting to bribe the Election Commission, was allegedly running the extortion racket from behind the bars. The ED said he had a cellphone with him that he had procured illegally in prison and made “spoofed calls to dupe people as the numbers displayed on the called party’s phone number belonged to senior government officers.”

Don't Miss:Acting To Poetry: Sriti Jha’s Talents Know No Bounds

During the initial investigation, the ED had seized a sea-facing bungalow in Chennai along with Rs 82.5 lakh cash and over a dozen luxury cars in connection with the case. As per a chargesheet filed by the ED at the time, Jacqueline had received expensive gifts from the conman and the ED also attached assets worth Rs 7 crore belonging to the actor in connection to the same.

The expensive gifts she received allegedly include a horse worth Rs 52 lakh, a Persian cat worth Rs 9 lakh for her and USD 1 lakh and AUD 2,67,40 for her family as well. According to her statement given to ED last year, she also received expensive designer bags and clothes from Gucci and Chanel and a bracelet of multi-colored stones, and two Hermes bracelets from conman. The ED also alleged that Chandrashekhar had paid Rs 15 lakh to a scriptwriter on behalf of the actor to write a web series for her.

Further, the ED alleged that Jacqueline was aware that the gifts were bought from the racket of money laundering. The statement read, "Chandrasekhar had put Pinky Irani, his long time associate and co-accused in this case to deliver the said gifts to her.”

However, in October, Jacqueline had denied the “alleged slanderous statements” made about her relationship with Chandrashekhar and his wife Malayalam actor Leena Maria Paul.

Don't Miss:Model Mukta Singh: Slaying With Grey Hair At 60

Meanwhile, in January 2022, intimate photos of her and the conman were leaked, which went viral. The actor issued a statement on the photos circling on social media, “This country and its people have always given me tremendous love and respect. This includes my friends from the media, from whom I have learned a lot. I am currently going through a rough patch but I am sure that my friends and fans will see me through it. It is with this trust that I would request my media friends to not circulate images of a nature that intrude my privacy and personal space. You would not do this to your own loved ones, am sure you would not do this to me either. Hoping that justice and good sense prevails. Thank you.”