A Delhi court on Saturday ordered the framing of charges against Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez, alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekar, his wife Leena Maria Paul and 14 others in connection with a Rs 200-crore extortion case.
The Patiala House Court directed that charges be framed against Fernandez, Chandrasekhar, his wife Leena Maria Paul and 14 others in the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) money laundering probe linked to the high-profile extortion racket. Formal charges are expected to be signed on June 3.
The case stems from allegations that Chandrasekhar, who is currently in jail, extorted around Rs 200 crore from Aditi Singh, the wife of former Ranbaxy promoter Shivinder Singh, while he was lodged in Delhi's Tihar Jail. Investigators have alleged that Sukesh Chandrasekhar posed as a government official and used a network of associates to carry out the fraud.
Additional Sessions Judge Prashant Sharma said, "I conclude that, based on the record and appreciation of the present case, accused persons have prima facie committed offences. They have to be charged with the said offences."
The court ordered framing of charges against Chandrashekar for personating a public servant, extortion, cheating, criminal intimidation, criminal conspiracy, along with IT Act provisions and MCOCA sections for committing an organised crime and possessing unaccountable wealth on behalf of members of an organised crime syndicate.
MCOCA, or the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999, is a law enacted to combat organised crime syndicates and terrorism. The act equips authorities with special powers to track, intercept and penalise gang-related criminal activities that normal penal codes fail to deter.
The court also ordered framing of charges under various penal provisions, the IT Act and MCOCA sections, against Chandrasekhar's wife and 17 others. Three others were ordered to be charged with the offences of criminal conspiracy and cheating. The Economic Offences Wing probed the case registered by the Delhi Police's Special Cell.
Fernandez was named as an accused in the ED's supplementary chargesheet after the agency alleged that she received expensive gifts from Chandrasekhar purchased using proceeds of crime generated through the extortion racket. According to the ED, the gifts included luxury items and other high-value assets.
The 40-year-old actor has consistently denied wrongdoing and maintained that she was unaware of the alleged criminal origins of the money.
In recent months, Fernandez sought to turn approver in the case, claiming she possessed information that could assist the investigation. However, the ED opposed her plea, arguing that she was not a minor participant and was a significant beneficiary of the proceeds of the crime.
The agency alleged that she remained in contact with Chandrasekhar despite being aware of his criminal background. Fernandez later withdrew her plea seeking approver status.
The framing of charges marks a significant step in the long-running case, paving the way for the trial to begin against Fernandez, Chandrasekhar and others.
Source: ANI