Supreme Court allows Jacqueline Fernandez to withdraw plea in ₹200 crore money laundering case

The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed actor Jacqueline Fernandez to withdraw her petition challenging a Delhi court order that framed charges against her in the alleged ₹200 crore money laundering case linked to conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar.

A bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Joymalya Bagchi permitted the withdrawal after Fernandez’s lawyer Manail Singhal informed the court that the actor wanted to pursue legal remedies available before the trial court.

The bench accepted the request and clarified that Fernandez would remain free to approach the trial court with any remedies available under law.

The matter had earlier been listed before another Supreme Court bench headed by Justice PK Mishra, who recused himself after his son appeared for the government in related proceedings. The case was later transferred to the bench that heard it on Thursday.

Fernandez had moved the top court through advocate Vartika Agarwal challenging the May 30 order of Additional Sessions Judge Prashant Sharma, who held that a prima facie case of money laundering existed against the actor and other accused.

The trial court order was based on material submitted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which alleged that the accused could be charged under Section 3 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), punishable under Section 4.

On June 3, charges were formally framed against Sukesh Chandrashekhar, Fernandez and others, marking the beginning of the trial.

The Supreme Court had earlier refused to quash the proceedings against Fernandez in the case. In September 2025, the court declined to entertain a similar challenge and asked the trial court to consider her objections during the stage of framing charges.

Details of the case

Sukesh Chandrashekhar is facing multiple extortion and cheating cases across several cities. Investigators allege that he impersonated senior government officials while operating from prison between 2020 and 2021 and extorted ₹215 crore from Aditi Singh by falsely promising to secure bail for her husband, former Fortis Healthcare promoter Shivinder Mohan Singh.

Delhi Police initially investigated the extortion case and arrested Chandrashekhar in 2017. The ED later began a money laundering investigation and arrested him in 2021.

According to the ED’s complaint, Fernandez was in contact with Chandrashekhar and allegedly received expensive gifts purchased using proceeds of crime. The agency has claimed that she continued her association with him despite being aware of his criminal background.

The ED has alleged that Chandrashekhar generated more than ₹200 crore through extortion, cheating, impersonation and intimidation, and later attempted to disguise the money as legitimate assets.

Investigators have claimed that the alleged proceeds were moved through multiple bank accounts, hawala channels, cash transfers and shell entities. Chandrashekhar’s wife Leena Paulose and several others are also accused in the case.