The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has verified assets worth over Rs 7 crores belonging to actor Jacqueline Fernandez, in connection to the Rs 200 crore money laundering case involving con man Sukesh Chandrashekhar.
ED stated, “During this investigation, it was revealed that Sukesh Chandrasekhar had given various gifts worth Rs 5.71 crores to Jacqueline Fernandez, from the proceeds of criminal activities including extortion. Sukesh Chandrasekhar had used Pinky Irani, his long-time associate and co-accused in the case, to deliver the said gifts to her.”
“In addition to these gifts, Chandrasekhar had also given funds worth USD 172,913 and AUD 26,740 to close family members of Jacqueline Fernandez, earned through criminal activities, through co-accused Avtar Singh Kochhar, an established and well-known international hawala operator,” ED noted.
It was stated that Chandrashekhar had reportedly paid Rs 15 lakh to a scriptwriter on behalf of Fernandez, as an advance payment for a webseries under development.
The Attack actor has been linked to Chandrashekhar and has appeared thrice before the ED.
As per a chargesheet filed by ED, Fernandez received expensive gifts from Chandrashekhar and she confirmed the same. She alleged that he had approached her under the pretext of being the owner of Sun TV.
Chandrashekhar’s connection with Fernandez was highlighted, after their personal photos were circulated in the media.
The actress denied the “alleged slanderous statements” that were made about her relationship with Chandrashekhar and his wife Leena Maria Paul.
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She spoke about the same on Instagram, and wrote, “This country and its people have always given me tremendous love and respect. This includes my friends from the media, from whom I have learned a lot. I am currently going through a rough patch but I am sure that my friends and fans will see me through it. It is with this trust that I would request my media friends to not circulate images of a nature that intrude my privacy and personal space. You would not do this to your own loved ones, am sure you would not do this to me either. Hoping that justice and good sense prevails. Thank you.”
Chandrashekhar has over 20 cases registered against him and was also reportedly managing the extortion cases, when he was in jail. He was earlier arrested in 2017 for attempting to bribe the Election Commission.
Aside from Fernandez, actor Nora Fatehi was also summoned by the ED for questioning in the case, after Chandrashekhar had revealed that he had gifted her a luxury car. However, Fatehi’s representatives maintained that she is a victim the case.