A Delhi court on Wednesday issued summons against Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez in multi-crore money laundering case linked to conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had earlier named her in a chargesheet filed in connection with the ₹200-crore money laundering case. She has been served a notice by Delhi Police for questioning on September 12. Delhi’s Patiala court has taken cognizance of the ED’s chargesheet and summoned the actor on September 26.
Chandrashekhar is being investigated in over 32 criminal cases by several state police and three central agencies — CBI, Enforcement Directorate and Income Tax. He gave the actor gifts worth ₹ 5.71 crore from the sum he swindled. The ED had found Fernandez to be the beneficiary of the proceeds of the extorted money. The ED believes she was aware that Chandrashekhar was an extortionist. Her lawyer, however, claimed she was a “victim of a conspiracy”.
Fernandez received four bags from Gucci, Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, Dior, three shoes from Louis Vuitton and Louboutin, two outfits from Gucci, perfumes, four cats, a Mini Cooper, two diamond earrings and a multi-coloured diamond bracelet from Chandrashekhar.
During questioning last year in October, Fernandez told the ED that Chandrashekhar had introduced himself as the “owner of the Sun TV and nephew of the late political leader, J Jayalalithaa”. The ED has attached assets of the actor worth more than ₹7 crore under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
The probe agency has arrested eight people in the case till now. Chandrashekhar had been arrested by the Delhi Police for allegedly extorting around ₹215 crore from Aditi Singh and Shivender Singh. Both Aditi and Shivender were members of the former promoters of pharmaceutical giant Ranbaxy.
