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🇮🇳 India /Crime & Justice

Charges to be framed against Sukesh, Jacqueline

From Hindustan Times · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified In the courts
  • A Delhi court ordered charges to be framed against conman Sukesh Chandrashekar and 16 others, including actress Jacqueline Fernandez, in a ₹200 crore extortion case.
  • Charges under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crimes Act (MCOCA) will also be framed against Chandrashekar and 21 others.
  • The court found prima facie evidence of money laundering and extortion, with a trial date set for June 3.

A Delhi court has ordered that charges be framed against alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekar and 16 others, including Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez, in connection with a ₹200 crore extortion case. The Patiala House court also directed charges under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crimes Act (MCOCA) against Chandrashekar and 21 co-accused.

she admitted contact with Sukesh and receiving of gift and money from him.

— Judge Prashant SharmaThe judge noted Jacqueline Fernandez's own statements under Section 50 of PMLA during the proceedings.

Special Judge Prashant Sharma noted that sufficient material exists to raise strong suspicion that Chandrashekar committed offenses under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The court highlighted 36 pieces of crucial evidence, including testimonies and digital records, indicating the generation of crime proceeds totaling ₹215 crores from complainant Aditi Singh and the subsequent laundering of this money. Prima facie suspicion also extends to Jacqueline Fernandez, as her own statements under PMLA admitted contact with Chandrashekar and receipt of gifts and money from him.

The court addressed the argument that an accused under PMLA need not be an accused in the scheduled offense, calling it "meritless." Regarding Fernandez's awareness that the gifts originated from proceeds of crime, the court stated this issue would be decided during the trial. In a separate order concerning the Delhi Police's case, the court found prima facie suspicion of offenses under MCOCA based on confessional statements, admissible under Section 18 of the Act.

he is involved in continuous unlawful activity.

— Judge Prashant SharmaThe court cited Sukesh Chandrashekar's criminal record as evidence of ongoing illegal actions.

Chandrashekar's criminal history indicates "continuous unlawful activity." The court referenced complainant Aditi Singh's statement, which alleged that Chandrashekar extorted over ₹200 crores by impersonating a senior government official and engaged in illegal activities with co-accused. The Enforcement Directorate's case, stemming from a Delhi Police FIR, alleges that Chandrashekar and associates extorted ₹200 crores between 2020 and 2021 from Aditi Singh, wife of former Ranbaxy promoter Shivender Singh, by posing as a top central government official.

it “indicated the generation of proceeds of crime to the tune of ₹215 crores from Aditi Singh and the modus operandi of laundering the money”.

— Judge Prashant SharmaThe court highlighted crucial evidence pointing to the origin and laundering of illicit funds.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hindustan Times. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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