On May 30, 2026, a court in Delhi decided to proceed with criminal charges against actress Jacqueline Fernandez, conman Sukesh Chandrashekar, and 15 others in a significant money laundering case worth Rs 200 crores. This ruling sets the stage for the trial to officially begin as all accused are expected to appear in court this week.
The Additional Sessions Judge Prashant Sharma noted that the investigation revealed enough evidence to move forward with prosecution. He indicated that there is considerable evidence suggesting wrongdoing by all involved.
The court determined that Fernandez and the others could be charged with money laundering under Section 3 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). This comes with severe penalties under Section 4 of the same law. The judge instructed everyone accused to be present in court on June 3 for the formal process of framing the charges.
Fernandez’s legal team had argued that she was an innocent victim, but the court dismissed this defense. They contended that she should not face prosecution because she was not named in the initial extortion case handled by the Delhi Police. However, the court ruled that individuals can be prosecuted under anti-money laundering laws regardless of their connection to the main offense.
The court highlighted that Fernandez had regular interactions with Chandrashekar and had accepted significant gifts and payments. It found that she was aware of his criminal past but still accepted luxurious items for herself and financial support for her family, which ties her to illegal activities.
This ruling follows a recent decision allowing Fernandez to withdraw her request to become a witness for the prosecution in the ongoing investigation. The Enforcement Directorate opposed this request, stating her involvement disqualified her from receiving such leniency.
The case revolves around an organized crime network led by Chandrashekar, who was first arrested in 2017 and again by the Enforcement Directorate in 2021. Reports indicate that he operated an extortion scheme from prison, using fake identities and impersonating high-ranking officials to trick victims into giving him large sums of money, totaling over Rs 200 crores.
