Jacqueline Fernandez withdraws application to turn approver in Sukesh Chandrashekhar's case

Bollywood Actor Jacqueline Fernandez on Tuesday withdrew her application in Delhis Patiala House Court to become an approver in the Rs 200 crore money laundering case linked with Sukesh Chandrasekhar The Enforcement Directorate ED had opposed her plea to turn approver saying that there is sufficient material against her being a beneficiary of proceeds of crimeAdditional Sessions Judge ASJ Prashant Sharma disposed of the application as withdrawn after noting the submissions of Advocate Ashish Batra counsel for Jacqueline Fernandez He submitted that she wishes to withdraw the applicationOn Monday the ED filed its reply opposing the application of Actor Jacqueline Fernandez seeking permission to turn approver The agency opposed the application saying that her conduct during the investigation was not proper and there was sufficient material against herThe agency said that in the present case Jacquelines role is not that of a minor participant but that of a significant beneficiary of the proceeds of crime and an active participant in the money laundering scheme under PMLA 2002Granting her the position of an Approver in the present case would be a miscarriage of justice and would undermine the gravity of the offence she has committed It is the right of agency to make any accsued an approver They are opposing the application the ED said It said that the application is abuse of process of lawIn its reply the ED had said that Jacqueline remained in regular and sustained contact with Sukesh Chandrashekhar even after having knowledge of his criminal antecedents who carefully arranged all benefits gifts and articles for the Applicant out of the proceeds of crime involved in the offence of money launderingThis consistent interaction through numerous ways of communication and receipt of benefits negate any claim of being an unwitting victim as underlined by the applicant in the present application and instead highlights her conscious association with the main perpetrator and with the illicit gains the ED saidIt was further said that the her conduct during the investigation has been far from cooperative as she consistently failed to make full and truthful disclosures in her statements recorded under Section 50 of the PMLA on 30082021 20102021 08122021 20052022 and 27062022Her statements were evasive contradictory and incomplete requiring repeated confrontations with evidence gathered the ED saidThe Investigation Agency had said that Jacqueline initially withheld or denied material facts relating to cash transactions with Advaita Kala receipt of costly gifts and luxury articles funds transferred to the bank accounts her association with Pinki Irani and othersThis deliberate concealment of facts and noncooperation undermines the very essence of the approver scheme under law which mandates a full and true disclosureIt was also said that Jacqueline was well aware of the criminal antecedents of the main accused ie criminal background she chose to continue her association and accept valuable benefits possess receive use and enjoy the proceeds of crime for herself and her family members thereby demonstrating a conscious disregard for the source of funds and actively participating in the laundering process Her claim of being a victim is therefore selfserving and contrary to the evidence on recordThe ED had said that the Applicants claim of being a cooperating witness in the predicate offence or her statement under Section 164 CrPC recorded on 02012023 before Spl Court PHC Delhi does not absolve the actress of her culpability in the distinct offence of money laundering under the PMLA 2002 The offence of money laundering is independent of the predicate offence and her role in the latter is clearly establishedThe Delhi High Court had dismissed her petition seeking quashing of the present ECIR and the 2nd Supplementary Complaint of 17082022 arraigning her as an accused on 03072025 The said dismissal was challenged before the Supreme Court However the said challenge was dismissed on 22092025The Patiala house court on April 17 issued notice to the Enforcement Directorate ED on a plea of Actor Jacqueline Fernandez seeking permission to turn approver in Rs 200 money laundering case linked with Sukesh ChandrasekharIt is alleged that the actor recieved gifts from Sukesh Chandrasekhar out of alleged proceeds of crime Special Public Prosecutor SPP Atul Tripathi for ED had opposed the applicationMoney laundering case is at the stage of arguements of charge and Jacqueline Fernandez is to argue on the charge Meanwhile she has moved an application to turn approver Her counsel said that she is ready and willing to turn approver and to cooperate with the investigationThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without 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