Is Jacqueline Fernandez Challenging a Money Laundering Case in the Supreme Court?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Jacqueline Fernandez appeals to the Supreme Court against a High Court ruling.
- Allegations involve luxury gifts from a conman.
- The ED claims assets worth Rs. 7.2 crore are 'proceeds of crime.'
- The legal proceedings highlight issues of due process.
- Fernandez insists on her innocence in the case.
New Delhi, Sep 21 (NationPress) Bollywood star Jacqueline Fernandez has filed a petition with the Supreme Court, contesting a ruling from the Delhi High Court that rejected her request to dismiss the money laundering case brought against her by the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
According to the cause list on the Supreme Court's website, the case is set to be heard on September 22 by a panel of Justices Dipankar Datta and Augustine George Masih.
This legal issue stems from claims that Fernandez received luxurious gifts and monetary advantages from the alleged fraudster Sukesh Chandrashekhar, who is accused of swindling numerous prominent figures.
The ED has asserted that assets valued at Rs. 7.2 crore associated with Fernandez were derived from illegal activities and has frozen them during the ongoing investigation.
In her appeal to the Delhi High Court, Fernandez argued that she was wrongfully implicated and should not face prosecution under Sections 3 and 4 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA). She insisted that she played no part in laundering Chandrashekhar's purported illicit wealth.
Nonetheless, a single-judge Bench led by Justice Anish Dayal of the Delhi High Court refused to halt the trial proceedings, indicating that the allegations warranted a thorough examination in the trial court. This ruling prompted Fernandez to escalate her case to the Supreme Court.
The ED has submitted several charge sheets related to this case. In its supplementary charge sheet, Fernandez was named as an accused, while another Bollywood figure, Nora Fatehi, was called in as a witness.
The federal anti-money laundering agency has alleged that Pinky Irani, an associate of Chandrashekhar, facilitated the delivery of extravagant gifts to Fernandez on his behalf. The actress, originally from Sri Lanka, has been a well-known figure in Hindi cinema for more than a decade, appearing in music videos and reality shows. A graduate in mass communication from the University of Sydney, she was crowned Miss Universe Sri Lanka in 2006 and represented her nation at the Miss Universe competition that same year.