Did Jacqueline Know About Sukesh’s ₹200 Crore Scam? Her Counsel’s Strong Defense in Court

Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez, embroiled in a high-profile money laundering case, presented her arguments before the Delhi High Court on Tuesday. Her counsel strongly refuted claims of her involvement in any criminal activities, stating that she did not derive economic benefit from a scheduled offense under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Why Jacqueline Cannot Be Prosecuted for Money Laundering

Senior Advocate Siddharth Agarwal, representing Jacqueline Fernandez, argued that for someone to be charged under PMLA, they must have knowingly derived economic advantage from criminal activities. He clarified that Jacqueline had no knowledge that the gifts she received from Sukesh Chandrashekhar were linked to extortion money.

The advocate highlighted that Sukesh's extortion crimes, amounting to ₹200 crore, came to light only after Aditi Singh filed an FIR. “Knowledge is essential to prove involvement in criminal activity. Jacqueline was unaware of the illegal origin of these gifts,” the counsel asserted.

To support the argument, the senior advocate referred to the Vijay Madanlal Chaudhary case, stating that not all attached properties during an investigation must necessarily be proceeds of crime. The counsel further explained that two cases cannot be prosecuted on identical facts.

In this instance, the extortion case against Sukesh Chandrashekhar is already being prosecuted under the Maharashtra Control of Organized Crime Act (MCOCA). Jacqueline, a witness in that case, cannot be accused of money laundering for the same facts.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has filed a charge sheet against Jacqueline Fernandez, naming her as an accused alongside Sukesh Chandrashekhar. However, Jacqueline’s legal team maintains that her involvement was unintentional and purely circumstantial.

Advocate Zoheb Hossain, representing the ED, will present their submissions on December 3 when the court reconvenes. Justice Anish Dayal has listed the case for further hearing on that date.

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Jacqueline’s Plea Against the Charge Sheet

Jacqueline Fernandez has challenged the ED's charge sheet, emphasizing that she was not a part of Sukesh’s alleged crime syndicate. Her counsel argued that she did not derive any economic benefit from the extorted money and should not be prosecuted under PMLA.The case has garnered significant media attention due to Jacqueline’s celebrity status and her alleged association with Sukesh Chandrashekhar, who is accused of defrauding multiple individuals, including high-profile figures.

Fans and legal experts alike are closely watching this case, as it raises questions about the extent of liability for individuals unknowingly entangled in financial crimes.

As the ED prepares its counterarguments, all eyes will be on the December 3 hearing. Jacqueline’s legal team is hopeful that the court will recognize her lack of involvement in the alleged money laundering activities and grant her relief.