New Delhi: A Delhi court on Friday allowed Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez to travel to Dubai to attend a conference from January 27-30 in order “to fulfil her professional commitments”.

“More particularly, when it is pointed out by learned counsel for the accused that on account of her acting career, the accused/applicant has been nominated in the prestigious Oscars Awards (95th Academy Awards). In such a situation, it is all the more necessary for the sake of pride of the country that unnecessary restrictions may not be imposed unless it is required for the accused,” the court of additional sessions judge Shailender Malik stated in the order on a plea by the actress in a Rs 200-crore money laundering case involving conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar.

Fernandez features in ‘Tell It Like A Woman’, whose song ‘Applause’ is in the Oscar race in the original song category.

This court said it was “very much conscious that the case is at the crucial stage” and “involves a very high stake in the sense that there are very serious allegations made against the accused persons”. “However, that fact by itself cannot be a reason to deprive the accused at this stage from travelling abroad when she is to fulfil her professional commitments.”

Noting that Fernandez has complied with the restrictions placed by the court while travelling abroad, it said the ED’s fears that the actor would “flee away” from the judicial process can be addressed by the terms and conditions laid down by the Delhi HC in its May 30, 2022, order.