NEW DELHI: A Delhi court on Tuesday granted bail to Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez in an alleged money laundering case of Rs 200 crore. The alleged conman, Sukesh Chandrashekar, is also an accused in this case.
Special judge Shailendra Malik of the Patiala House Court granted bail to Jacqueline Fernandes. Earlier, she was granted interim bail by the trial court. The court had raised questions as to why the agency did not arrest her during the investigation. The court had said that the agency arrested some accused while the others were not. “Why this policy of pick and choose?,” the court questioned.
Jacquline’s counsel senior advocate Siddharth Agarwal and Prashant Patil submitted that the actress cooperated with the investigation and her statement was recovered five times. They also submitted that she was not arrested during the investigation and supplementary chargesheet has been filed and she is also a woman. It was also argued that she was not aware that the gifts she received were out of proceeds of crime. In these circumstances, she is entitled to bail.
On the other hand, the counsel for the ED submitted that she has a history of attempts to fleeing the country and that she did not cooperated in the investigation. Apart from this she is economically sound, can influence the investigation and win over the witnesses. She possessed, used and enjoyed the proceeds of crime. The investigation is still going on and other issues may crop up, , the ED argued.
The ED’s counsel also submitted that she is foreign national and has roots in Sri Lanka. Her parents are living in Bahrain, her brother is living in Australia and sister is in another country. She may flee if she is enlarged on bail.
She cannot be granted bail only on the ground of being a woman as she did not cooperate in the investigation. In this circumstances, she may not be granted bail, the ED’s counsel submitted.
The ED, in its reply opposing the regular bail plea of Jacqueline, stated that she never cooperated with the investigation and only made the disclosure when confronted with evidence. Jacqueline was informed about Sukesh’s criminal antecedents within 10 days of her introduction to him. She is no ordinary person, but a Bollywood actress with huge financial resources and hence high stature and influence, mentioned the ED.
The Additional Sessions Judge had earlier issued notice to the ED on Jacqueline’s regular bail petition, granted interim bail to her till the pendency of regular bail petition.
On August 17, a supplementary chargesheet was filed by the ED in the Rs 200 crore extortion case against conman Sukesh Chandrashekar in a Delhi court mentioned the name of Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez as an accused. Jacqueline Fernandez has also been summoned by ED several times in the matter for the purpose of investigation.
According to ED’s earlier chargesheet, Bollywood actresses Jacqueline Fernandez and Nora Fatehi stated that the actresses got top models of BMW cars and expensive gifts from the accused Sukesh.
The ED chargesheet clearly stated, “During the investigation, statements of Jacqueline Fernandez were recorded on August 30, 2021 and October 20, 2021. Jacqueline Fernandez stated that 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 car, which she returned.”
According to the ED, Sukesh was confronted with Jacqueline on October 20, 2021. Jacqueline stated that Sukesh Chandrasekhar had arranged private jet trips and her hotel stay on different occasions for herself.
Statements of Nora Fatehi were recorded under Section 50 of PMLA, 2002 on September 12, 2021, and October 14, 2021, wherein she stated that she got a booking for a charity event and, during the event, she was gifted a Gucci bag and one iPhone by Leena Paulose, Chandrashekhar’s wife.
Nora further stated that Leena Paulose had called her husband and put the phone on the speaker where he thanked her and said that they were her fans. She then announced that they would gift her a brand new BMW car as a token of love and generosity.
The court has listed the matter for hearing on arguments on the charges in the matter on November 24 and 25. (ANI)