Court reserves verdict in bail plea of Jacqueline Fernandez

A Delhi court has reserved the verdict on whether or not to grant bail to actor Jacqueline Fernandez in alleged Rs 200 crore money laundering case against conman Sukesh Chandrashekar.  Special judge Shailendra Malik reserved the order on the bail plea of Jacqueline Fernandes. Earlier he granted interim bail to Fernandez.

The Court also raised questions, “Why did the agency not arrested her during the investigation?

Jacquline’s Counsel had submitted that her statement was recorded five times and that she cooperated with the investigation. They also submitted that she was not arrested during the investigation and a supplementary chargesheet has been filed and she is also a woman. This proposition ought not to be altered by the court. It was also argued that she was unaware that the gifts that she had been receiving were out of criminal possession and considering the circumstances, she is entitled to bail.

On the contrary counsel for ED submitted that she has a history of attempting to flee the country. She did not cooperate in the investigation. Besides that ED also stated that Fernandez is economically well off and can also manipulate the witnesses.

“She possessed, used and enjoyed the proceeds of crime of Rs 7 crore. It is the role of the accused. The investigation is still going on, any other may crop up. In these circumstances she may not be granted bail,” ED’s counsel submitted. Further ED also argued that she cannot be granted bail only on the ground of the accused being a woman as she did not cooperate in the investigation.

ED chargesheet clearly stated that “during the investigation, statements of Jacqueline Fernandez were recorded on 30.08.2021 and 20.10.2021 Jacqueline Fernandez stated she received gifts viz three designer bags from Gucci, Chanel, and two Gucci outfits for gym wear. A pair of Louis Vuitton shoes, two pairs of diamond earrings and a bracelet of multi-coloured stones, two Hermes bracelets. She also received a Mini Cooper which she returned.”