Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez has withdrawn her petition from the Supreme Court in connection with the ongoing ₹200 crore money laundering case involving alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar, marking a key procedural development in the long-running legal battle.
A bench comprising Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Joymalya Bagchi allowed the actor to withdraw her Special Leave Petition (SLP) when the matter came up for hearing on Thursday.
Earlier Challenge to High Court Order
Jacqueline had approached the apex court challenging a Delhi High Court order that refused to quash the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) prosecution complaint against her. She had also contested the trial court’s decision framing charges under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
With the withdrawal, the Supreme Court did not go into the merits of her challenge.
Bench Change and Recusal Earlier in Case
The matter had earlier been listed before a different bench on June 11, but proceedings were deferred after Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra recused himself from hearing the case.
He had noted that his son had appeared for the government in a connected matter, stating that the case should be placed before a different bench to maintain judicial propriety.
Following this, the matter was reassigned to the bench that heard it on Thursday.
ED Case and Allegations
The Enforcement Directorate has alleged that Jacqueline Fernandez was in contact with Sukesh Chandrashekhar and received gifts worth approximately ₹7 crore, allegedly linked to proceeds of crime.
The agency has further claimed that she did not fully cooperate during the investigation under provisions of the PMLA and maintained links with Chandrashekhar even after his criminal background surfaced.
Jacqueline, however, has consistently denied the allegations, maintaining that she was unaware of any illegal activities or the alleged source of the gifts she received.
Ongoing Trial in Lower Court
The broader case involves Chandrashekhar, his wife Leena Maria Paul, and several others, all of whom have been charged and have pleaded not guilty before the trial court.
The matter is currently scheduled for further hearing before the Patiala House Court on July 16, where proceedings in the money laundering case will continue.
