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• Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez, accused in a Rs 200 crore money laundering case, was knowingly involved in the possession and use of proceeds of crime of alleged conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has contended before Delhi High Court.
• ED claimed Fernandez never revealed the truth regarding the financial transactions with Chandrasekhar and always concealed facts until confronted with evidence. Not only that she was aware of the criminal antecedents of Chandrasekhar, still she continued to receive, enjoy and possess proceeds of crime for herself and her family members.
• Fernandez’s plea stated the prosecution complaint filed against her confirmed that nowhere it has been alleged that she had the knowledge about the nefarious activities of Chandrasekhar in extorting money. She alleged that the ED has acted in a partisan manner while arraigning her as an accused in the money laundering case.

How did it all began?

• Apparently in 2021 Jacqueline and Sukesh found themselves in a supposed relationship. The actor’s makeup artist was persuaded by the conman from Tihar jail so that she gets him introduced to Fernandes.
• As reported in The Print, Sukesh had been calling and messaging Jacqueline several times when the actor did not respond, desperate Sukesh got in touch with her makeup artist as the ‘owner of Malabar Jewels and Sun TV and this is when the two started connecting finally.
• Jacqueline said to the ED that she was not aware the conman was calling her from Tihar Jail and during video calls he was shown in an office setup and the very same setup was actually done inside the jail.
• Jacqueline Fernandez and Sukesh Chandrashekhar met twice only when he was out on parole.
• Each time Jacqueline was questioned about Sukesh she brushed the news aside stating ‘these things keep happening with businessmen.’
• Apparently, the makeup artists convinced Jacqueline that Sukesh was part of a political family and has genuine affection for her. Since her days in Bollywood are numbered, this might be a good match for while she can also bag movies in the South as Sukesh is well connected.

When the trouble brewed?

• Jacqueline Fernandez’s name propped up when Sukesh’s wife who has been jailed too mentioned her name.
• ED tagged Jacqueline Fernandez as witness and possible ‘beneficiary’ of a RS 200-core money laundering racket supposedly run by Sukesh. Jacqueline was stopped from boarding a flight to Muscat from Mumbai Airport after the ED issued a lookout circular in her name and she has cooperated with the ED by appearing for questioning.
• A 7,000-page charge sheet filed by the ED mentioned that Chandrasekhar gave Fernandez an Arabian horse worth Rs 52 lakh, three Persian cats that cost about Rs 9 lakh each, a diamond ring from Tiffany, expensive paintings, and other gifts. According to the charge sheet, Fernandez received gifts worth up to Rs 10 crore in total from Chandrasekhar.
• The ED’s case against Chandrasekhar is based on an FIR filed by the Delhi Police’s Economic Offences Wing in which he is accused of cheating and extorting Aditi Singh, wife of the former promoter of Religare Enterprises, Shivinder Mohan Singh. The latter was arrested in October 2019 in a case related to alleged misappropriation of funds at Religare Finvest Ltd.

Did poverty create the Swindler?

• The conman was not a born conman! Coming from a poor struggling to meet its ends, Sukesh alias Balaji had been ill-famed for duping over 100 people to turn into a billionaire.
• Sukesh Chandrashekhar has been imprisoned since 2017 with over 15 FIRs registered against him.
• His luxurious sea-facing bunglow in Chennai, expensive cars and Rs. 82.5 lakh cash, all built through money laundering have been seized by ED.
• Sukesh loved watching Hindi cinema and started networking in the industry. In 2010 he came in touch model and actor Leena Paulose who played a role in the John Abraham -starrer Madras Cafe, was taken up by his charm and they started living together. The affair culminated to marriage in 2015.

• What Jacqueline Fernandez and Sukesh Chandrashekhar shared might have an emotional quotient but the popular face of industry, Jacqueline being technically challenged to not have even googled ‘Sukesh Chandrashekhar’ remains ambiguous