Justice Anish Dayal denies the Bollywood actress’s request to quash ED proceedings and the supplementary chargesheet linked to conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar.
New Delhi, July 3, 2025:
In a major legal blow to Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez, the Delhi High Court on Thursday dismissed her petition seeking to quash criminal proceedings in the ₹200 crore money laundering case involving alleged conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar.
Justice Anish Dayal rejected Fernandez’s plea, which also aimed to nullify the second supplementary chargesheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and halt the ongoing trial court proceedings.
The High Court had reserved its verdict in April after hearing arguments from both sides. Fernandez’s legal team had maintained that she was unaware of the illegal origin of the lavish gifts she received, which the ED claims were purchased using proceeds from Chandrasekhar’s fraudulent activities.
What the Court Said:
The ED countered that Fernandez’s petition lacked merit, emphasizing that the special court had already taken cognisance of the chargesheet and established a prima facie case. The High Court also noted that Fernandez had not challenged the trial court’s cognisance order, further weakening her plea.
Background of the Case:
Sukesh Chandrasekhar is currently incarcerated for allegedly cheating Shivinder Singh and Malvinder Singh, former promoters of Ranbaxy, of ₹200 crore. According to ED investigations, he and his wife Leena Paulose funneled illicit funds through hawala networks and shell companies.
The actress’s lawyer argued that the ED never claimed she knew the gifts were proceeds of crime, and said her trust was manipulated by co-accused Pinky Irani, who painted Chandrasekhar as a politically targeted scapegoat.
Key Defense Claims:
- Fernandez claimed she read about Sukesh’s criminal history in a newspaper article in February 2019, but insisted a media report doesn’t constitute legal evidence.
- She maintained that she had no reason to suspect the gifts were linked to illegal funds, as Irani vouched for Chandrasekhar’s integrity and high-level connections.
Despite these defenses, the court found no grounds to halt proceedings or invalidate the ED’s chargesheet.
Tags:
Jacqueline Fernandez case, Sukesh Chandrasekhar, ED money laundering case, Delhi High Court verdict, Bollywood legal troubles, ₹200 crore scam, Pinky Irani, Leena Paulose, Ranbaxy scam