New Delhi— A Delhi court on Friday issued notice to the Enforcement Directorate on a plea filed by actor Jacqueline Fernandez seeking to turn approver in the ₹200 crore money laundering case linked to alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekar.
Special Judge Prashant Sharma directed the agency to file its response and listed the matter for further hearing on April 20.
Fernandez, who had earlier been questioned multiple times by the ED, was named as an accused in a supplementary chargesheet filed by the agency in the high-profile case. Her move to turn approver signals a potential shift in her legal strategy, as she seeks to cooperate with investigators.
The legal battle has seen multiple setbacks for the actor. In July last year, the Delhi High Court dismissed her plea to quash the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR), a decision later upheld by the Supreme Court, which declined to intervene.
The case stems from allegations that Chandrasekhar defrauded the wives of former Ranbaxy promoters Shivinder Singh and Malvinder Singh of ₹200 crore. Investigators allege that he, along with his wife Leena Paulose, used hawala networks and shell companies to launder illicit funds.
Both Chandrasekhar and Paulose were arrested by Delhi Police, which also invoked provisions of the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) in the case. Authorities say the accused operated a wider network involving multiple financial frauds across the country.
The court’s decision to seek ED’s response will be crucial in determining whether Fernandez can be granted approver status, which could significantly impact the course of the investigation.
