Jacqueline withdraws SC plea

Bollywood actress withdrew her plea challenging ED proceedings and money laundering charges in the Rs 200 crore Sukesh Chandrashekhar case

Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez on Thursday withdrew her special leave petition before the Supreme Court challenging a Delhi High Court order that refused to quash the Enforcement Directorate’s prosecution complaint against her in the Rs 200 crore money laundering case linked to alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar.

A Bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Joymalya Bagchi allowed Fernandez to withdraw her plea when the matter came up for hearing on Thursday.

The actress had challenged the Delhi High Court’s order refusing to quash the ED’s complaint, as well as a trial court order framing charges against her under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The matter was earlier listed before a Bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Atul S. Chandurkar on June 11. However, Justice Mishra recused himself after informing the parties that his son had appeared for the government in a connected matter.

“In one of the connected matters, my son had appeared on behalf of the government. The case must therefore be placed before a different Bench,” Justice Mishra had observed.

Following the recusal, the matter was listed before the Bench of Justices Nagarathna and Bagchi on June 25. During the hearing, Fernandez sought permission to withdraw her petition, which was allowed by the apex court.

What the ED alleges

The ED has alleged that Jacqueline received luxury gifts worth around Rs 7 crore from Chandrashekhar, allegedly funded through proceeds of crime.

Next hearing

Jacqueline has pleaded not guilty and will face trial. The matter is scheduled to come up before the trial court on July 16.