Actor Jacqueline Fernandez appeared before Delhi’s Patiala House Court on Wednesday, June 3, in the high-profile Rs 200 crore money laundering case, which is also linked to alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar. In a significant development, the court directed the formal framing of charges under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) against Fernandez, Chandrashekhar and 15 other accused individuals.
The order was passed by Additional Sessions Judge Prashant Sharma, who observed that there was sufficient material on record to raise a strong suspicion against all the accused. The court also noted that Fernandez allegedly received gifts and financial benefits worth over Rs 5.71 crore. The investigation reported that these assets were allegedly acquired using proceeds of crime linked to Chandrashekhar’s alleged extortion network.
The court had earlier observed prima facie evidence suggesting that, despite being aware of Chandrashekhar’s criminal background, Fernandez continued to accept expensive gifts and other benefits.
Jacqueline Fernandez Withdraws Approver Plea
In May 2026, Jacqueline Fernandez filed an application seeking to become an approver in the case. Through the plea, she sought permission to assist the prosecution by providing evidence against Chandrashekhar, potentially helping her avoid a criminal trial. However, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) strongly opposed the request. The ED argued that Fernandez was not merely a beneficiary but an active participant in the alleged money laundering activities. Following the ED’s objections, the actress withdrew her approver plea on June 1, 2026.
Previous Legal Relief Denied by Higher Courts
Before withdrawing her plea, Fernandez had approached both the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court seeking to quash the Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) registered against her. However, both courts declined to provide relief, allowing the investigation and proceedings to continue.
While ordering the framing of charges, Judge Prashant Sharma stated that there was enough material on record to proceed against all accused persons under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The court held that the accused should be charged under Section 3 of the PMLA, which deals with the offence of money laundering and is punishable under Section 4 of the Act.
Apart from Jacqueline Fernandez and Sukesh Chandrashekhar, the accused list includes Chandrashekhar’s wife Leena Maria Paul, along with Deepak Ramnani, Pradeep Ramdanee, B Mohanraj, Arun Muthu, D Kamlesh Kothari, Pinky Irani and several others.
What Is the Rs 200 Crore Money Laundering Case?
Sukesh Chandrashekhar has been at the centre of one of India’s most talked-about financial crime investigations. He was first arrested by Delhi Police in 2017 and was later taken into custody by the Enforcement Directorate in 2021 as part of its money laundering probe.
According to the investigators, Chandrashekhar operated a large criminal syndicate from the prison. He was also accused of impersonating senior government officials, including officers from the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of Law and Justice, to extort money from high-profile victims.
According to the prosecution, the alleged racket generated hundreds of crores of rupees through fraudulent activities and extortion schemes.
