Jacqueline Fernandez’s Plea in Sukesh Chandrashekhar Case Rejected by Supreme Court
In a setback for Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez, the Supreme Court on Monday dismissed her plea seeking a stay on the trial in the high-profile money laundering case against conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar. Fernandez had approached the top court after the Delhi High Court rejected her petition in July.
A bench of Justices Dipankar Datta and AG Masih heard the matter but refused to intervene. Fernandez’s lawyer, Mukul Rohatgi, argued that the actor should not be held responsible for accepting gifts from her former boyfriend, who is under investigation by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of India’s Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Justice Datta, however, cited the landmark Vijay Madanlal Choudhary judgment, which upheld several provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). He observed that at the stage of framing charges, the allegations must be accepted as presented, regardless of whether gifts were given between friends. “Take it as, they were two very close friends, and now if one friend gives something to the other friend, ultimately if it is found that the other person is involved in a predicate offence, very difficult,” the judge explained.
The court dismissed Fernandez’s plea but allowed her the liberty to approach it again if necessary.
Defending herself, Fernandez maintained that she had no involvement in Chandrashekhar’s alleged crimes. Through her lawyer, she said, “I have nothing to do with it. This man was infatuated with me. He sent gifts to me—bags, etc. It is not alleged that I helped him launder that ₹200 crore. No part of that amount ever came to me.”
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