The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday opposed a plea filed by actress Jacqueline Fernandez to turn approver in the Rs 200 crore money laundering case that is being probed by them. Notably, last month, Fernandez moved to court with an application to become an approver in the case, which has conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar as the main accused.
ED opposes Jacqueliene Fernandez`s plea
The ED had opposed Fernandez`s plea to turn approver, while arguing that her role in the case is not just that of a minor participant but of a significant beneficiary of the proceeds of crime. It added that she was an active participant in the money laundering scheme.
Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Prashant Sharma of the Patiala House Court on Monday, May 11, asked Fernandez to respond to the ED`s response while listing the case for further consideration on May 12, 2026.
The ED argued that Fernandez remained in “regular and sustained” contact with the main accused, Sukesh Chandrashekhar, even after knowing his criminal antecedents. Hence, making her an approver would be a miscarriage of justice and would also undermine the gravity of the offence she has committed.
The agency further contended that said Chandrashekhar carefully arranged all benefits, gifts and articles for Fernandez out of the proceeds of crime, which involved in the offence of money laundering.
“That the applicant was well aware of the criminal antecedents of the main accused, i.e., accused No.1, i.e. Sukesh Chandrashekhar. Despite this knowledge of his real identity and 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 member, 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 self-serving and contrary to the evidence on record,” the ED stated.
The ED also claimed that Fernandez’s conduct during the investigation has been far from cooperative and that she has consistently failed to make full and truthful disclosures in her statements, which have been recorded on five occasions so far.
About the case
Chandrashekhar is accused of having posed as a high-level government official acting on behalf of the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) and the Home Minister to scam business entrepreneur Aditi Singh of nearly Rs 200 crores over a span of seven to eight months. Notably, Fernandez was named in the case on accusations that she received expensive gifts from Chandrashekhar, who was her boyfriend.
Initially, a prosecution complaint was filed against eight accused in December 2021, and Fernandez was not named in the complaint. On August 17, 2022, the ED filed a second supplementary prosecution complaint in the matter, and this time named Fernandez as an accused.
The actress said that she appeared before the ED five times and had recorded her statement under Section 50 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).