Jacqueline Fernandez Fails to Get Relief from Supreme Court in ₹215-Crore ED Case

Actor Jacqueline Fernandez's plea to dismiss a Rs 215-crore money laundering case was rejected by the Supreme Court. The case involves alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar. The court, however, allowed her to approach them again at a later stage. This decision follows a similar rejection by the Delhi High Court in July.

Legal Proceedings and Allegations

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has accused Fernandez of accepting luxury gifts from Sukesh, valued over Rs 7 crore. These included jewellery, clothes, and vehicles. Despite this, Fernandez insists she was unaware of Sukesh's criminal activities. The ED claims she deleted phone data after his arrest and initially hid financial dealings with him.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi represented Fernandez in court. He argued that the prosecution's case hinges on her supposed lack of caution when accepting gifts from Sukesh. Justice Dipankar Datta noted that allegations must be accepted as they are at this stage, as nothing has been proven yet.

Court Observations and Reactions

Justice Datta remarked on the complexity when a friend gives something without knowing their involvement in an offence. He emphasized that the court must follow precedent and cannot dismiss charges before trial. The court also highlighted that this wasn't a case of receiving gifts unknowingly.

Fernandez approached the Supreme Court after her petition was dismissed by the Delhi High Court on July 3. The High Court had stated that determining whether she committed any crime could only happen during trial proceedings.

Sukesh is currently held in Delhi's Mandoli jail for allegedly orchestrating a Rs 215-crore fraud scheme targeting high-profile individuals through impersonation and deceit. Despite being named as a co-accused in the ED's chargesheet filed in August 2022, Fernandez continues to deny all allegations against her.

The ongoing legal battle highlights the complexities involved when personal relationships intersect with criminal investigations. As proceedings continue, all parties await further developments in this high-profile case involving significant financial transactions and alleged deceitful practices.