Jacqueline Fernandez Withdraws Supreme Court Plea in ₹200 Crore Money Laundering Case
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The Supreme Court of India has granted Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez permission to withdraw her special leave petition, which sought to challenge a Delhi High Court order refusing to quash a money laundering case against her. The case stems from a 200-crore rupee extortion scandal involving conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar.
The decision was delivered by a bench comprising Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Jaimalya Bagchi. This development follows a procedural hiccup last month, when the matter was initially listed before a bench headed by Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra. That judge recused himself from the proceedings, citing a conflict of interest involving his son’s professional representation of a party associated with the case.
Fernandez’s move to drop the petition aligns with her recent strategy in the trial court. On June 3, the actor appeared before the Patiala House Court in Delhi, where she formally pleaded not guilty to charges under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). By opting to face trial, Fernandez has signaled her intent to contest the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) allegations on their merits.
The ongoing legal battle centers on claims by the ED that Fernandez was a beneficiary of proceeds generated by Chandrashekhar’s criminal activities. Investigators allege that the actor received approximately 7 crore rupees in luxury gifts, including high-end accessories and vehicles, funded by the illicit operations. Fernandez has consistently maintained that she was unaware of Chandrashekhar’s criminal background or the illicit origins of the gifts.
The ED has maintained a stern stance throughout the investigation, arguing that the actor’s cooperation was insufficient. The agency contends that Fernandez withheld critical information during her testimony and continued to communicate with the accused despite having knowledge of his history. The federal agency previously opposed a bid by the actor to be treated as an “approver,” or prosecution witness, asserting that her conduct did not warrant such status.
With the Supreme Court petition now withdrawn, the case will proceed through the standard judicial process in the lower court. The trial, which also involves charges against Chandrashekhar, his wife Leena Maria Paul, and 14 other defendants, is scheduled for its next hearing on July 16. All accused have pleaded not guilty and are seeking a full trial to clear their names.
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