Jacqueline Fernandez withdraws Supreme Court plea in ₹200 crore money laundering case

The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez to withdraw her special leave petition (SLP) challenging a Delhi High Court order that refused to quash the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) prosecution complaint and the trial court’s decision framing charges against her in the ₹200 crore money laundering case linked to alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar.

A Bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Joymalya Bagchi permitted Jacqueline to withdraw her plea when the matter came up for hearing. Earlier, the case had been listed before a Bench of Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Atul S. Chandurkar on June 11. However, Justice Mishra recused himself after informing the parties that his son had appeared on behalf of the government in a connected matter. The case was subsequently listed before the present Bench on June 25.

During Thursday’s hearing, Jacqueline sought permission to withdraw her petition, which the apex court allowed. In her SLP, she had challenged the Delhi High Court’s refusal to quash the ED’s prosecution complaint and the trial court’s order framing charges against her under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Earlier this month, Jacqueline pleaded not guilty before the Patiala House Court and expressed her willingness to face trial. Appearing before the court on June 3, she denied the charges framed against her under the PMLA and opted to contest the case on merits.

The trial court also framed money laundering charges against Sukesh Chandrashekhar, his wife Leena Maria Paul and 14 others, all of whom pleaded not guilty and sought trial. The matter is now listed for further proceedings on July 16.

The development comes weeks after Jacqueline withdrew her application seeking to become an approver in the case. The ED had opposed the plea, alleging that her conduct during the investigation was “not satisfactory” and that she failed to make a “full and true disclosure” in statements recorded under Section 50 of the PMLA.

The agency has alleged that Jacqueline remained in regular contact with Chandrashekhar even after becoming aware of his criminal background and did not fully cooperate with the investigation into the alleged proceeds of crime. According to the ED, Chandrashekhar arranged luxury gifts, valuables and other benefits for the actor using proceeds of crime, including gifts worth around ₹7 crore.

Jacqueline, however, has consistently maintained that she had no knowledge of Chandrashekhar’s alleged criminal activities or the source of the money used for the gifts.

The money laundering case stems from allegations that Chandrashekhar cheated the wives of former Ranbaxy promoters Shivinder Singh and Malvinder Singh of nearly ₹200 crore