ED rejects Jacqueline Fernandez's plea, tells court she was an ‘active participant’ in Rs 200 crore money laundering case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday opposed actor Jacqueline Fernandez’s plea seeking to turn approver in the Rs 200 crore money laundering case linked to alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar. Fernandez had approached the court last month with an application seeking approver status in the case, where Chandrashekhar is the prime accused. The actor has been accused of receiving luxury gifts from Chandrashekhar, with whom she was reportedly in a relationship.Additional Sessions Judge Prashant Sharma of the Patiala House Court directed Fernandez to file her response to the ED’s objections and scheduled the matter for further hearing on May 12. Opposing her plea, the ED argued that Fernandez cannot be treated as a minor participant in the case, claiming she was a “significant beneficiary” of the proceeds of crime and an “active participant” in the alleged laundering operation.According to the agency, Fernandez remained in “regular and sustained” contact with Chandrashekhar even after becoming aware of his criminal background. The ED said granting her approver status would amount to a miscarriage of justice and would dilute the seriousness of the offence.The ED further alleged that Chandrashekhar had “carefully arranged” expensive gifts and other benefits for Fernandez using money generated through criminal activities.“That the applicant [Fernandez] was well aware of the criminal antecedents of the main accused, ie. Accused No.1 i.e. Sukesh Chandrashekhar. Despite this knowledge of his real identity and criminal background, she chose to continue her association and accept valuable benefits, possess, receive, use and enjoy the "proceeds of crime" for herself and her family member, thereby demonstrating a conscious disregard for the source of funds and actively participating in the laundering process. Her claim of being a "victim" is therefore self-serving and contrary to the evidence on record,” the ED stated.The agency also told the court that Fernandez did not fully cooperate during the investigation and allegedly failed to make complete and truthful disclosures in the five statements recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).Chandrashekhar is accused of impersonating a senior government official allegedly connected to the Prime Minister’s Office and the Union Home Ministry to cheat businesswoman Aditi Singh of nearly ₹200 crore over seven to eight months.The ED had initially filed its prosecution complaint in December 2021 against eight accused persons, without naming Fernandez. However, in August 2022, the agency filed a second supplementary prosecution complaint and included the actor as an accused in the case.Fernandez has maintained that she appeared before the ED on five occasions and recorded her statements under Section 50 of the PMLA.Last year, the Delhi High Court dismissed Fernandez’s petition seeking to quash the proceedings against her.