NEW DELHI:
Enforcement Directorate
on Wednesday summoned
Jacqueline Fernandez
, 38-year-old Bollywood actor, for another round of questioning in a
money laundering case
involving alleged conman
Sukesh Chandrashekhar
. The case involves the alleged cheating of high-profile individuals, including
Aditi Singh
, the wife of former Fortis Healthcare promoter Shivinder Mohan Singh, amounting to approximately Rs 200 crore.
According to the ED, Chandrashekhar allegedly used the "proceeds of crime" or illegal money to purchase gifts for Fernandez. In a charge sheet filed in 2022, the agency stated that the actor was "enjoying valuables, jewellery and costly gifts provided by Chandrashekhar despite knowing about his criminal antecedents."
Fernandez has been questioned by the ED at least five times previously in this case, and she has consistently maintained her innocence, claiming no knowledge of Chandrashekhar's alleged criminal activities.
The extravagant gifts given to the actress include a horse worth Rs 52 lakh, three Persian cats worth Rs 9 lakh each, designer clothes and gymwear, designer bags from Gucci and Chanel, Louis Vuitton shoes, Hermes bracelets, and a Mini Cooper, which the actress reportedly returned. The ED also revealed that Chandrashekhar provided a loan of USD 1,73,000 to Fernandez's sister and gifted a BMW car, a Rolex watch, and a loan of Rs 15 lakh to her brother.
ED investigations found that Fernandez was in 'regular contact' with Chandrashekhar until his arrest on August 7, 2022. The gifts to the actress gained attention in 2021 when Chandrashekhar listed them in a statement. Currently, Chandrasekhar is imprisoned at Tihar jail for orchestrating an extortion racket of Rs 200 crore. In addition to Fernandez, he was also linked to another starlet, Nora Fatehi, who was granted bail by the ED.
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