Jacqueline Fernandez Faces Major Blow in ₹200 Crore Money Laundering Case

Delhi High Court Refuses to Quash Criminal Proceedings Against Jacqueline Fernandez in ₹200 Crore Money Laundering Case.

In a significant legal setback for Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez, the Delhi High Court on Thursday dismissed her plea seeking to quash criminal proceedings in a ₹200 crore money laundering case linked to alleged conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar.

Justice Anish Dayal delivered the judgment, rejecting Fernandez’s petition to quash the case and the second supplementary chargesheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The court had reserved its verdict in April, after hearing arguments from both sides.

Actor Denies Knowledge of Illicit Gifts
Fernandez’s counsel argued that the actor was unaware the expensive gifts she received from Chandrasekhar were part of the proceeds of crime. They maintained that she had no knowledge of Sukesh’s fraudulent activities when she accepted the gifts, and had no intent to be involved in any wrongdoing.

“It is not the case of the ED that she knowingly accepted proceeds of crime,” her lawyer told the court, further arguing that she was misled by co-accused Pinky Irani, who introduced Chandrasekhar to Fernandez and allegedly vouched for his character and political influence.

ED Opposes Plea
The ED strongly contested Fernandez’s petition, arguing that it was not legally maintainable since the special PMLA court had already taken cognisance of the chargesheet and found sufficient grounds to proceed. The agency also noted that Fernandez had not challenged the trial court’s cognisance order, which further weakened her plea.

According to the ED, Sukesh Chandrasekhar — currently in jail — used hawala operators and shell companies to move illicit funds. He allegedly defrauded the spouses of Ranbaxy’s former promoters Shivinder and Malvinder Singh of ₹200 crore.

The agency claims Fernandez benefited from the proceeds through lavish gifts, including designer items and luxury goods, though it acknowledged there was no direct claim that she knew the money’s illegal origin at the time.

Background
Sukesh Chandrasekhar and his wife Leena Paulose are accused of orchestrating multiple financial frauds across India. The ongoing investigation has implicated several individuals, including Fernandez, who has been questioned multiple times by the ED since 2021.

Her legal team also contested the relevance of a 2019 newspaper article about Chandrasekhar cited by the ED, arguing that media reports do not constitute admissible evidence.

Despite these arguments, the High Court found no merit in Fernandez’s plea to quash the case, paving the way for trial proceedings to continue.