SC rejects Jacqueline Fernandez's plea to quash 200 crore fraud case

In a significant setback for Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez, the Supreme Court has refused to hear her petition seeking to quash the money laundering case against her. The case is connected to a ₹200 crore fraud scheme orchestrated by conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar. The apex court's decision, which stated, "Not now; the petitioner should return to court at the appropriate stage," effectively sends the actress back to face trial, with the judge noting that it's difficult to separate the actions of a friend from a crime when they receive a portion of the proceeds.

The Supreme Court's bench, led by Justice Dipankar Datta, acknowledged the complexities of the case. "The allegation is that you received a portion of ₹200 crore as a gift," he stated, adding that the law allows for a wide scope of involvement. He further elaborated, "Two very close friends, if one friend gives something to another friend and then they commit a crime, it is very difficult to separate." This observation points to the difficulty the actress faces in proving she was an unwitting recipient of gifts.

Jacqueline Fernandez's legal team, led by senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, argued that she was a victim of the conman's elaborate schemes. Rohatgi contended that the actress had no knowledge of Sukesh's criminal history and that he was simply infatuated with her, sending her gifts without her knowledge of their illicit origins. The lawyer emphasized that there was no allegation that she actively helped in the money laundering or extortion.

This legal battle began after the Enforcement Directorate (ED) named Jacqueline Fernandez as an accused in the case. She had previously challenged the ED's move in the Delhi High Court, arguing that all allegations against her were false. However, the Delhi High Court dismissed her petition on July 3, stating that whether an accused has committed a crime can only be determined by a trial court, a decision she then appealed to the Supreme Court.

Jacqueline had previously stated in the Delhi High Court that she was unaware of Sukesh's criminal background and that he had posed as a fake minister. He reportedly duped a wealthy woman by promising her husband's bail in exchange for the money, a part of which was allegedly used to purchase gifts for the actress.