Fri. Jul 4th, 2025

In a significant development in the high-profile ₹200 crore money laundering case, Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez has approached the Delhi High Court to quash proceedings initiated against her under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The case stems from her alleged association with conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar, who is accused of extorting hundreds of crores from individuals, including public figures. After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Anish Dayal has reserved the order.

Appearing for Fernandez, Senior Advocate Siddharth Aggarwal argued that the actress is being unfairly targeted simply due to her celebrity status. “Today, I am paying the price of being a celebrity,” he said, adding that Fernandez had no knowledge of Chandrashekhar’s criminal background when she was introduced to him as a successful businessman. He also questioned the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) logic, warning that it could lead to a dangerously broad interpretation of guilt by association.

The Enforcement Directorate, however, maintained that Fernandez continued to accept luxury gifts from Chandrashekhar even after discovering his criminal past. The agency argued that her actions showed continued involvement and that its investigation under PMLA is distinct from regular police investigations, focusing on how the proceeds of crime are handled.

Aggarwal countered that Fernandez had never been complicit and highlighted that her statements were recorded by the Economic Offences Wing (EOW), which did not find any active involvement on her part. He clarified that the plea was not to quash the entire case, but only the proceedings personally implicating the actress based on insufficient evidence.

In her petition, Fernandez requested the court to dismiss the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) and the supplementary charge sheet filed by the ED. She argued that she had been manipulated by Chandrashekhar and that there is no proof linking her to money laundering activities. The court is expected to issue its decision in the coming weeks.

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