Jacqueline Fernandez withdraws plea against charges in Rs 200 cr money laundering case

Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez has withdrawn her plea before the Supreme Court, challenging a Delhi trial court order that framed charges against her and alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar in a Rs 200 crore money laundering case.

The bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Joymalya Bagchi said, "Counsel for the petitioner (Jacqueline Fernandez) has sought permission to withdraw this special leave petition with liberty to avail appropriate remedy in accordance with law."

Welcome to the Jungle actress Jacqueline Fernandez withdrew her Supreme Court plea on June 25, challenging charges against her in the Rs 200 crore money laundering case. The Supreme Court on Thursday permitted the actor liberty to avail appropriate remedies under the law. 

On May 30, a Delhi court ordered that charges be framed against the actor, alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekar, and 15 others in the case. The actor had approached the Supreme Court challenging this order.

In a separate case filed by the city police's special cell, the trial court also directed that charges be framed against Sukesh Chandrashekar and 20 other accused for multiple offences, including provisions under



the stringent MCOCA law.

As per PTI, earlier on June 3, a Delhi court formally framed charges in the money laundering case, setting the stage for a full trial. Later on June 11, Supreme Court judge Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra recused himself from hearing Jacqueline Fernandez’s plea in the matter.

Jacqueline Fernandez, who was summoned several times by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) during the investigation, was named as an accused for the first time in a supplementary charge sheet filed by the agency.

For the unversed, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) alleged that she was in regular contact with Sukesh Chandrashekar and had received expensive gifts from him through his associate Pinky Irani.

According to investigators, Chandrashekar was running an organised criminal network from jail, where he impersonated senior government officials, including those from the Prime Minister’s Office and other ministries.

The ED further alleged that Sukesh Chandrashekar generated over Rs 200 crore through extortion and fraud, and then laundered the money by hiding its origin and routing it through different channels with the help of his associates.