Jacqueline Fernandez drops approver bid in ₹200 crore Sukesh money laundering case
Synopsis
Jacqueline Fernandez's bid to turn approver in the ₹200 crore Sukesh Chandrashekhar money laundering case has collapsed — just one day after the ED told a Delhi court she failed to cooperate and make full disclosures. With the Supreme Court having already rejected her quashing plea, the actor now faces trial as an accused.
Key Takeaways
Jacqueline Fernandez withdrew her approver application before Patiala House Court on 12 May 2025 .
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had opposed her plea, calling her conduct during the probe "not satisfactory" and citing failure to make full disclosures.
The ED alleges Fernandez received luxury gifts worth approximately ₹7 crore from Sukesh Chandrashekhar , allegedly sourced from proceeds of crime.
The Supreme Court had earlier declined to quash the PMLA proceedings against her, citing the Vijay Madanlal Choudhary precedent.
The case stems from allegations that Chandrashekhar defrauded the wives of former Ranbaxy promoters Shivinder Singh and Malvinder Singh of nearly ₹200 crore .
Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez on Tuesday, 12 May withdrew her application seeking to turn approver in the ₹200 crore money laundering case linked to alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar before a Delhi court. The move came just a day after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) strongly opposed her plea before the Patiala House Court.
Why the ED Opposed Her Plea
The ED had submitted before the court that Fernandez's conduct during the investigation was
Point of View
Grounded in specific allegations of non-cooperation and continued contact with Chandrashekhar, left little room for the court to grant approver status. The Supreme Court's earlier refusal to quash proceedings had already narrowed her legal options significantly. What this case underscores is how PMLA's broad evidentiary framework — upheld in Vijay Madanlal Choudhary — makes it exceptionally difficult for accused persons to exit proceedings once chargesheeted, regardless of their claimed ignorance of the crime's origins. Fernandez now faces a full trial, and the defence's next move will be critical.
NationPress
13 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Jacqueline Fernandez withdraw her approver plea?
Fernandez withdrew her application a day after the ED opposed it before the Patiala House Court, alleging she failed to cooperate during the investigation and did not make full and truthful disclosures. With the opposition on record, continuing the plea carried little prospect of success.
What is the ₹200 crore money laundering case about?
The case involves allegations that Sukesh Chandrashekhar cheated the wives of former Ranbaxy promoters Shivinder Singh and Malvinder Singh of nearly ₹200 crore. The ED alleges the proceeds of this fraud were laundered, with luxury gifts funnelled to Bollywood actors including Jacqueline Fernandez.
What has the ED alleged against Jacqueline Fernandez?
The ED has alleged that Fernandez received luxury gifts worth approximately ₹7 crore from Chandrashekhar, sourced from proceeds of crime, and that she continued contact with him even after learning of his criminal background. She has been named as an accused in a supplementary prosecution complaint.
What did the Supreme Court rule in Jacqueline Fernandez's earlier plea?
In September last year, the Supreme Court declined to quash the PMLA proceedings against Fernandez, citing its own judgment in the Vijay Madanlal Choudhary case that upheld the ED's powers. The bench observed that allegations at the charge-framing stage must be accepted as they stand.
What happens next in the case?
With the approver application withdrawn, Fernandez will continue to face trial as an accused before the Patiala House Court. The case is expected to proceed to the charge-framing stage, and her defence team is likely to mount fresh legal challenges.
