Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez just changed her legal strategy in the ₹200 crore money laundering case tied to alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar. She officially withdrew her Special Leave Petition from the Supreme Court on Tuesday. The move comes as the Enforcement Directorate continues its aggressive crackdown on high-profile figures allegedly connected to the high-stakes extortion ring Chandrashekhar operated from inside Tihar Jail.
Key Details
- Her legal counsel requested the withdrawal on June 25, 2026, opting to pursue remedies directly before the trial court.
- The plea originally challenged a May 30 Delhi trial court order that formally directed the framing of charges against the actor.
- Charges were officially framed on June 3 at the Patiala House Court against Fernandez, Chandrashekhar, and 15 others.
- Fernandez appeared in person to plead not guilty and confirmed she will contest the active trial.
The withdrawal was approved by a Supreme Court bench comprising Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Joymalya Bagchi after her lawyers indicated they would face the trial court head-on. The legal pivot follows a highly publicized procedural delay earlier this month. On June 11, Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra recused himself from the case because his son had previously represented the government in a connected legal matter.
At the center of the dispute is the initial May 30 order where the trial court explicitly invoked the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The presiding judge stated there was strong suspicion and sufficient material to proceed with PMLA Section 3 charges against her.
The core of the case traces back to an August 2021 Delhi Police Economic Offences Wing investigation. Chandrashekhar is accused of extorting over ₹200 crore from Aditi Singh by impersonating senior government officials. The ED alleges Fernandez received proceeds of crime in the form of luxury gifts worth approximately ₹5.71 crore.
The federal agency has consistently positioned Fernandez as a conscious participant rather than an oblivious victim. In fact, strong opposition from the ED recently forced Fernandez to withdraw a separate legal plea in May 2026 where she attempted to turn state approver and assist the prosecution.