ED’s objection to Jacqueline Fernandes becoming a government witness: Agency said – Actress is not a victim, took gifts worth crores even after knowing about Sukesh’s crime

The troubles of actress Jacqueline Fernandes are increasing in the money laundering case of Rs 200 crore. On Monday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) opposed Jacqueline’s plea in a Delhi court in which she had sought to become a ‘government witness’. ED clearly told in the court that Jacqueline had full knowledge of the criminal background of Sukesh Chandrashekhar, yet she remained in constant touch with him and kept taking gifts worth crores from the proceeds of crime. Jacqueline was in constant touch with Sukesh. In its reply filed before Special Judge Prashant Sharma, ED said that Jacqueline is not an innocent victim who does not know anything about Sukesh. According to the agency, the actress was in regular and sustained contact with Sukesh Chandrashekhar even after knowing his criminal record. Sukesh had arranged expensive gifts, luxury goods and facilities for Jacqueline and her family with the money earned through crime. The ED insisted that Jacqueline’s association with Sukesh was a conscious decision. The agency has also raised questions on Jacqueline’s behavior for not cooperating in the investigation. ED told the court that the actress did not cooperate at all during the investigation and her statements were misleading. According to the report, there were many contradictions in Jacqueline’s statements recorded between August 2021 and June 2022. The ED alleged that the actress hid important information from the agency like cash transactions made to her scriptwriter Advaita Kala, funds sent to siblings living abroad and cars purchased for her parents in Bahrain. ‘Calling herself a victim is a trick to avoid punishment’ ED clarified that Jacqueline calling herself a ‘victim’ is only a way to avoid the law. Jacqueline was an active participant in this money laundering process and thoroughly enjoyed the proceeds of crime, the agency said. Making them government witnesses would be a betrayal of justice and would dilute the seriousness of the crime. ED has termed this application as an abuse of the process of law. Now the hearing of the case will take place on May 12. Case related to money laundering of Rs 200 crores: Let us tell you that this entire matter is related to swindler Sukesh Chandrashekhar, who had defrauded the wives of former Ranbaxy promoters Shivinder Singh and Malvinder Singh of Rs 200 crores. Jacqueline was made an accused in the supplementary charge sheet in this case. Earlier, Delhi High Court and Supreme Court had also rejected the petition to quash the case against him.



Source link