On Friday, the EOW (Economic Offences Wing) of the Delhi Police questioned Nora Fatehi at the Mandir Marg Police Station for six hours in connection with the Sukesh Chandrasekar extortion case. As per sources, the inquiry has revealed that Sukesh went to Mumbai on parole multiple times and partied with actors and gifted expensive items and cash (in crores).

Ravindra Yadav, Special CP, Crime/EOW, said, “We called Nora Fatehi to strengthen the case by questioning characters related to the crime syndicate being operated by Sukesh from jail. She was questioned for around six hours. She cooperated, but there are a few unanswered questions. Maybe we’ll need to further question. Nora said she didn’t know that the event where she was invited to in Chennai had links to this crime syndicate. But everything will have to be seen, how were the car and gifts that she had received used. We’ll reach a conclusion only with a proper probe.”

Earlier, in her reply to ED (Enforcement Directorate) attaching her assets and naming her an accused in the money laundering case, Jaqueline Fernandez had said, “What is surprising is that other celebrities, notably, Nora Fatehi was also conned by the main accused Sukesh Chandrasekar and in the present case she and other such celebrities who received gifts from the main accused are made witnesses whereas the respondent (Jaqueline) is sought to be dragged as an accused (sic).”

Jacqueline has been summoned by a Delhi court on September 26. Sources say that Jacqueline was also called by the EOW for questioning on August 29, but as she was not well she has been sent another notice to appear before the EOW on September 12. – ANI, with inputs from Niharika Lal

Jacqueline Fernandez “cooked up a false story” to “wriggle out of” the ongoing money laundering probe against Sukesh Chandrasekar, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has alleged in its latest supplementary chargesheet, which names the actress as an accused. Last week, in her response to the freezing of her assets by the ED, Fernandez had stated that she is a victim of manipulation.

Additional Sessions Judge Praveen Singh, on Wednesday, took cognisance of the second supplementary chargesheet filed by the ED, and asked Fernandez to appear before the court on September 26. Here are the other accusations against Fernandez in the chargesheet.

The ED further said Fernandez, during her questioning, tried to “cover up” her conduct by constantly stating that she has been a victim in the case. However, she “failed to provide any substantial material to establish the victimisation by Sukesh.”

The agency alleged the actress and her family received “proceeds of crime” worth more than ₹7.12 crore between February to August, 2021 and these, apart from another ₹15 lakh cash given to a writer by Chandrasekar on behalf of Fernandez, were attached by the ED few months back. Fernandez filed before the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against a fixed deposite attached by the ED, stating that it was created through her hardwork. She also opposed other attachment of assets. The agency in its chargesheet claimed that Chandrasekar “arranged” funds to the tune of USD 1,72,913 (₹1.37 crore, approx) in the bank account of Fernandez’s sister based in the US, at the request of the actress. Fernandez told the ED that Chandrashekar purchased a horse named ‘Espuela’ which she was “free to use” apart from four cats. The agency was told by Fernandez that she got several gifts from the accused including watches, jewellery, shoes, cloth items, among other things.

The ED claimed its probe found that Fernandez was “enjoying valuables, jewellery and costly gifts provided by Chandrasekar despite knowing about his criminal antecedents.” “From the statements recorded, it is evident that she (Fernandez) consciously chose to overlook his (Chandrasekar) criminal past and continued to indulge in financial transactions with him. Not only she but her family members and friends have benefited out of the relationship financially,” the chargesheet alleged. The ED added that since Fernandez came in touch with Chandrasekar through her aides, she has been “searching about Sukesh on Google” but she seems to have “conveniently overlooked or preferred to sideline the fact that he has strong criminal antecedents.”

The ED said Fernandez has “consistently shifted her stance with regard to the gifts being received by her and her relatives (from Chandrasekar)”. It claimed the actress divulged the details “only” after she was confronted with evidence and statements (of other accused/people involved in the case). “The investigation has disclosed that Fernandez has cooked up a false story to wriggle out of the ongoing investigation.” Fernandez has also been accused by the ED of “tampering” with the evidence after she learnt the Chandrasekar was arrested. The actress, it said, “knowingly and deliberately deleted all the data in respect of conversation made by her with accused Sukesh from her mobile phones with the aim of hampering investigation to save herself and her family members.”

The ED claimed Fernandez had first denied that Chandrasekar purchased cars for her parents living in Bahrain, but when confronted with evidence, she “admitted” the same, which “shows her connivance with the accused (Chandrasekar) to conceal the use of the proceeds of crime.”

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Actor Jacqueline Fernandez knew of conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar’s criminal past but continued to indulge in financial transactions with him, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is investigating a ₹200 crore money laundering case, said in its supplementary chargesheet.

The actor, who has been named as an accused in the case, was “directly or indirectly involved in the proceeds of crime and acquired, possessed and used part proceeds of crime” in the form of gifts for herself and her family members and “cooked up a false story” to wriggle out of the case, ANI quoted the ED as saying.The chargesheet also added that Fernandez was well aware about “the fact that Leena Maria Paul is his wife in February 2021”.

“Despite being fully aware of his criminal history and that he is lodged in Tihar Jail, Jacqueline Fernendez was knowingly a party or actually involved in the process (money laundering) by using or enjoying the proceeds of crime by the way of valuable gifts,” the agency stated.

As a result, she committed an offence of money laundering under section 3 of Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002, which is punishable under section 4 of the PMLA, 2002, the chargesheet further added.

“Thus, it can be safely concluded that the lure of money ensured that the criminal history of the person she was engaging with did not matter,” the chargesheet, which was filed at Patiala House court on August 17, said.

On Wednesday, the Delhi court issued a summon to Fernandez to appear before it on September 26.

Jacqueline Fernandez was named as an accused in a supplementary chargesheet filed in Delhi court by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), in a Rs. 200 crores money laundering case involving conman Sukesh Chandrasekar in a Delhi Court.

In her recent reply to the authorities who have attached several of her Fixed Deposits (FDs), she said that her FDs have no connection to alleged conman Sukesh Chandrasekar and were created even before he “existed. ” In a reply to adjudicating authorities of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the actress stated that the “FDs attached vide the impugned order, had no nexus with a crime nor were the Fixed Deposits created by using the alleged proceeds of crime.”

Jacqueline also added that in the present case, at best, the allegation against her is that she is the “recipient of the gifts.”

The ED in April provisionally attached assets worth Rs. 7.27 crores of the actress under the PMLA apart from Rs. 15 lakhs cash, calling the funds as “proceeds of crime.”

On Wednesday, after a supplementary chargesheet filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in a Rs. 200 crores money laundering case named Jacqueline Fernandez as an accused, her lawyer, advocate Prashant Patil, said, “The agencies have failed to appreciate that she was cheated and conned into this matter.”

A Delhi court will consider on August 31 a supplementary chargesheet filed on Wednesday by the Enforcement Directorate in a Rs. 200 crores money laundering case involving alleged conman Sukesh Chandrasekar, naming Jacqueline Fernandez as an accused. Fernandez, who was summoned by ED several times in the matter, has been named as an accused in the chargesheet for the first time in the case.

Advocate Prashant Patil, who is representing Fernandez in the matter, said in a statement that they had received information about the complaint being filed by the Enforcement Directorate “only through media reports”.

“There is no official communication from the Enforcement Directorate or the Hon’ble Court. My client has not received any copy of the complaint filed by the Enforcement Directorate,” stated Patil, adding, “Jacqueline has always cooperated with the investigation agencies and attended all the summons issued till date. She has handed over all the information to the best of her ability to the ED. The agencies have failed to appreciate that she was cheated and conned into this matter. She is a victim of larger criminal conspiracy. (sic)”

Patil continued, “Taking the entire prosecution case to be true for the sake of arguments, even then, no case is made out against Jacqueline under the scheme of Prevention of Money Laundering Act or any other Law in force. This is a case of malafide prosecution and my client shall take steps as required under law to protect her dignity and liberty.”

The ED in April provisionally attached assets worth Rs. 7.27 crores of the actress under the PMLA apart from Rs. 15 lakh cash, calling the funds as “proceeds of crime”. “Sukesh Chandrasekhar had given various gifts worth Rs. 5.71 crores to Jacqueline Fernandez from the proceeds of crime generated by criminal activities, including extortion,” stated the agency.

While Fernandez didn’t directly comment on the case, she re-shared an anonymous motivational quote on her Instagram stories. “Dear me, I deserve all good things, I’m powerful, I accept myself. It’ll all be ok. I’m strong, I’ll achieve my goals and dreams. I can do it (sic),” read the post. 

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Actor Jacqueline Fernandez’s lawyer Prashant Patil came to her defence on Thursday and claimed that the actor is a “victim of a larger conspiracy.” Patil’s statement came a day after Fernandez was named in a charge sheet by the Enforcement Directorate in a Rs. 200 crores money laundering case, linked to the conman Sukesh Chandrashekar.

“She has always cooperated with the investigation agencies and attended all the summons issued till date. She has handed over all the information to the best of her ability to the ED. The agencies have failed to appreciate that she was cheated and conned into this matter. She is a victim of a larger criminal conspiracy,” he said.

Patil told a leading news portal that they will be moving to the Patiala court to ask for a copy of the charge sheet filed by ED. Patil said, “We will apply for a certified copy of the complaint filed by the ED. It’s the right of the accused, so we are hopeful to get it.”

Earlier, Fernandez had shared on her Instagram story: “Dear me, I deserve all good things, I’m powerful, I accept myself, it’ll all be okay. I’m strong, I will achieve my goals and dreams, I can do it.”

On Sunday evening, immigration officials detained Jacqueline Fernandez — who was headed to Dubai for a show — at Mumbai International Airport. Sources say, “Jacqueline was stopped from leaving the country by immigration officials due to an LOC (Look Out Circular) issued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against her in connection with a Rs. 200 crore money laundering case involving Sukesh Chandrasekar.”

The LOC was issued with directions that the actress should not be permitted to leave India. Following the incident, ED officials reached the airport, where they informed the actress that she has to appear for questioning before the agency in Delhi. Fresh summons against Jacqueline will be issued soon. On Saturday, the ED filed a chargesheet in a Delhi court against Chandrasekar and others in the case. 

According to ED, Jacqueline and Chandrasekar had allegedly met four times in Chennai between April and June this year, when the latter was out on bail and Chandrasekar even arranged a private jet for the actress for these meetings. As per reports, the chargesheet mentions that Chandrasekar has gifted Jacqueline items worth Rs. 10 crores including jewellery, four Persian cats — one worth Rs. 9 lakh — and a horse worth Rs. 52 lakh. Last week, pictures of Chandrasekar and Jacqueline together went viral. In August, when she recorded her statement, Jacqueline denied any financial links with Chandrasekar.

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Since authorities might call Jacqueline again for questioning, which she will have to appear for, she might not be able to be a part of Salman Khan’s upcoming Da-Bangg The Tour, which will kick off later this week in Riyadh. While the buzz is that Daisy Shah will be replacing Jacqueline, the former denied the reports, and told us, “I am not aware of this.” Other actors, who are a part of the tour include Aayush Sharma, Prabhudheva, Sunil Grover, Saiee Manjrekar and Shilpa Shetty Kundra among others.

— Inputs by Onkar Kulkarni

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Actor Jacqueline Fernandez, 36, on Sunday was stopped at the Mumbai airport by the immigration officers, as there was a Look Out Circular (LOC) issued by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against her. According to a PTI report, officials stated that the actor was barred from leaving the country after being named as one of the beneficiaries in alleged conman Sukesh Chandrasekar’s ₹200 crore money-laundering case and that she may be required to join an ongoing investigation for the same.

The actor was on her way to Dubai or Muscat when she was stopped, and she left the airport around 6 pm. Since travel restrictions might be imposed on her, rumours have emerged that actor Salman Khan is likely to replace her in the Da-Bangg The Tour, which is set to begin this month in the UAE.

A source close to the actor tells us, “For now, Jacqueline is going to be in the country and won’t travel abroad.”

The Sri Lankan-origin actor was questioned by the ED in multiple sessions in connection with the over ₹200 crore money-laundering case being probed against Chandrasekar and his wife, actor Leena Maria Paul.

Recently, Jacqueline’s cosy pictures with the conman, weeks after she denied any relationship with him, went viral and had sparked a controversy.