Actor Jacqueline Fernandez has withdrawn her plea before the Supreme Court in the Rs 200 crore money laundering case linked to alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar. The plea had challenged the Enforcement Directorate’s prosecution complaint and the trial court’s order framing charges against her under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
According to an IANS report, a Supreme Court Bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Joymalya Bagchi allowed Fernandez to withdraw her special leave petition after the matter came up for hearing on Thursday. With this, the proceedings against her will continue before the trial court.
What the Supreme Court plea was about
Fernandez had moved the Supreme Court after the Delhi High Court declined to quash the ED’s prosecution complaint and the order passed by the trial court framing charges against her. Her petition sought relief from those proceedings in the money laundering case.
The matter was earlier listed on June 11 before a Bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Atul S. Chandurkar. Justice Mishra recused himself from hearing it after informing the parties that his son had appeared for the government in a connected case. After the recusal, the case was placed before the Bench of Justices Nagarathna and Bagchi.
Trial court proceedings will continue
The case is now set to proceed before the trial court. Earlier this month, Fernandez appeared before the Patiala House Court and pleaded not guilty to the charges framed against her under the PMLA. She told the court that she intended to contest the allegations during the trial.
The trial court has also framed money laundering charges against Sukesh Chandrashekhar, his wife Leena Maria Paul, and 14 others. As per the source report, all the accused denied the charges and chose to face trial. The matter is scheduled to come up before the trial court on July 16 for further proceedings.
ED’s allegations and Fernandez’s stand
The Enforcement Directorate has alleged that Chandrashekhar gave Fernandez luxury items and valuables worth around Rs 7 crore. The agency claims these were purchased using proceeds of crime generated through the alleged money laundering operation.
Fernandez has denied involvement in the alleged offences. She has maintained that she was not aware of Chandrashekhar’s alleged criminal activities and did not know the source of the funds used to buy the gifts.
The latest development also comes after Fernandez withdrew an application seeking to become an approver in the case. The ED had opposed that request. According to the agency, her conduct during the investigation was not satisfactory, and she did not make a full and truthful disclosure in statements recorded under Section 50 of the PMLA.
The ED has also claimed that Fernandez stayed in contact with Chandrashekhar even after learning about his alleged criminal background. The agency has alleged that she did not fully cooperate during the investigation. Fernandez has continued to contest the allegations against her.
Origin of the Rs 200 crore case
The money laundering probe stems from allegations that Sukesh Chandrashekhar cheated the wives of former Ranbaxy promoters Shivinder Singh and Malvinder Singh of nearly Rs 200 crore. The ED’s case is connected to the alleged handling and use of funds generated from that cheating case.
With the Supreme Court plea withdrawn, the focus now shifts back to the trial court, where Fernandez and the other accused are expected to face further proceedings on the next listed date.
Source: Bollywood Hungama.