2 weeks Ago By Tanmayi Savadi
According to the latest report, the Delhi High Court on Thursday reserved the order on Jacqueline Fernandez's petition challenging the Enforcement Directorate's complaint under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The case was filed against her for allegedly receiving expensive gifts from jailed conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar. Court's decision As per ANI, the bench of Justice Anish Dayal reserved its decision after hearing extensively from both sides.
Jacqueline was represented by Senior Advocate Sidharth Aggarwal. Special Counsel Zoheb Hossain appeared on behalf of the Enforcement Directorate (ED). ALSO READ: Jacqueline Fernandez Visits Siddhivinayak Temple With Maye Musk, Calls Elon Musk's Mother 'Dear Friend' The report stated that during the arguments, Jacqueline’s advocate contended that if the ED claimed that money was distributed among 15 individuals, then everyone involved and could be deemed guilty of money laundering.
He further raised questions regarding financial transactions involving a criminal automatically constituting money laundering. The Senior Advocate further said that the ED's case hinges on Jacqueline's awareness of Sukesh's criminal background, as reported in a 2021 newspaper article. Aggarwal also asserted that being a celebrity does not imply prior knowledge of tainted funds.
Mentioning that Sukesh met Jacqueline as a businessman, Aggarwal said, “Businessmen often have multiple cases against them. Today, I am paying the price of being a celebrity.” All you need to know about the case Jacqueline, a popular Bollywood actress, filed a petition seeking the quashing of the ECIR (equivalent to an FIR) and the supplementary chargesheet filed by the ED in connection with the Rs 200 crore money laundering case.
Through a plea, she stated that the evidence filed by the Directorate of Enforcement would prove that the Petitioner is an innocent victim of Sukesh's maliciously targeted attack. There is no indication that she had any involvement whatsoever in aiding him to launder his purportedly ill-gotten wealth. The actress cannot be prosecuted for the offences under Sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002.
During the court hearing on Thursday, ED argued that its investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, is separate and distinct from police investigations into scheduled offences. The lawyer representing the investigating agency emphasised that individuals accused of money laundering may differ from those charged in the predicate offence, given the distinct nature of the crime. Earlier, ED opposed Jacqueline's plea, claiming that she continued to receive Sukesh's gifts despite being aware of his criminal background.
Defending her, Senior Advocate Siddharth Aggarwal and Advocate Prashant Patil said being labelled as a money launderer in public is problematic. Aggarwal said, “My prayer is not to quash the complaint completely, it's only to quash the present applicant (Jacqueline). Sukesh is sitting in jail and carrying out extortion and fraud from there.
EOW comes to me, records my statement, and finds that what I have to say is relevant to their investigation. ED has filed four complaints, but the investigation is still going on, and the trial cannot start.” Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from Bollywood, Entertainment News and around the world.
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