The Enforcement Directorate’s chargesheet filed against Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez clearly stated that ‘she consciously chose to overlook conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar’s criminal past and continued to indulge in financial transactions with him. Not only she but also her family members and friends have benefited from the relationship financially.
Taking cognizance of charges levelled against Jacqueline by the ED in its supplementary charge sheet filed on 17 August before it, the Designated Court under Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) 2002 on Wednesday issued summons for the Bollywood diva to appear before it physically on 26 September.
The trial court at Patiala House is hearing a Rs. 200 cr extortion case involving her friend conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar and his close associates. According to the ED supplementary charge sheet, Fernandez is alleged to have received and enjoyed the proceeds of crime.
The Daily Guardian was first to break the story on 20 August on ED supplementary charge sheet three days after the ED filed it accusing Fernandez of knowingly enjoying the proceeds of crime. According to the ED charge sheet, Fernandez’s sister Geraldine J Walker received US$ 172913 and her brother Warren J Fernandez AUD 26740 into their offshore bank accounts through Deepak Ramnani, an aide of Chandrasekhar, the conman who is cooling his heels in Delhi’s Tihar Jail in connection with the Rs. 200 cr extortion case.
“Jacqueline Fernandez has also received amount to the tune of US$ 172913 into the foreign bank account of her sister Geraldine J Walker and amount to the tune of AUD 26740 into the foreign bank account of her brother Warren J Fernandez,” stated the ED charge sheet.
The ED further alleged that the Bollywood actor had received more than Rs. 8 cr in gifts from Chandrasekhar through his associates Pinky Irani and Leepakshi Ellawadi and knew well about his criminal antecedents. “Jacqueline Fernandez had received gifts worth Rs. 5,71,11,942 from Sukesh Chandrasekhar knowing well of his criminal antecedents through accused Pinky Irani as well as Leepakshi Ellawadi, out of which the expenses made through Pinky Irani worth Rs. 2,66,77,401 and through Leepakshi Ellawadi worth Rs. 3,04,34,541,” the charge sheet read.
In its charge sheet, the ED also alleged that Fernandez had “wiped out the entire data from her mobile phone” after her friend Chandrasekhar was arrested in the extortion case. The ED has made Fernandez a co-accused in the Rs. 200 cr extortion case against the conman for receiving proceeds of crime in the form of gifts and assets.
She has been summoned by the ED for questioning several times. The central agency had attached funds worth Rs. 7.27 cr in bank accounts in April this year and also Rs. 15 lakh cash belonging to her.
Additional Sessions Judge Praveen Singh on Wednesday, after taking cognizance of the supplementary charge sheet, directed Fernandez to appear before it on 26 September.
Meanwhile, a lawyer appearing for Delhi Police EOW, which is also probing the same case, informed the trial court that Fernandez was recently asked to join investigation on 29 August but she did not appear. So, the EOW has issued fresh summons to her.
Advocate Prashant Patil, appearing for Fernandez, assured the court that she would join the investigation and co-operate with the probe agency.