New Delhi, Sep 22: Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez faced another legal setback as the Supreme Court refused to entertain her plea to quash the Enforcement Directorate’s case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The case is linked to alleged conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar, who is accused of orchestrating a Rs 200 crore extortion racket.
During the hearing, Jacqueline’s counsel, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, argued that the actress was unaware of Sukesh’s criminal background and had no role in the laundering scheme.
He claimed Sukesh was infatuated with her and sent unsolicited gifts.
However, Justice Dipankar Datta observed that Jacqueline had allegedly received a portion of the extorted money as gifts, stating, “Even close friends can be implicated if they benefit from proceeds of crime.”
The court advised Jacqueline to approach the appropriate lower court first, declining to offer any immediate relief.
This development adds to the string of legal troubles Jacqueline has faced since her name surfaced in the high-profile case.
