Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez, who is awaiting the release of her upcoming movie 'Vikrant Rona', appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday in New Delhi in connection with her alleged links with conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar.
The actress was spotted outside the ED headquarters for a fresh round of questioning in a money-laundering case. She was issued fresh summons for recording her statement as the agency is tracking the remaining proceeds of crime in this case, according to the officials.
The 36-year-old, along with Bollywood actress-dancer Nora Fatehi, had already recorded her statement as a witness in the case last year. She has also been questioned two-three times by the agency earlier.
In April, the central agency had provisionally attached Fernandez's Rs 7.27 crore funds (fixed deposits worth Rs 7.12 crore and Rs 15 lakh cash) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), calling these funds "proceeds of crime".
In a statement issued by the ED, Chandrasekhar gave the actress various gifts worth Rs 5.71 crore from the proceeds of crime generated by criminal activities including extortion. "Chandrasekhar had put Pinky Irani, his long-time associate and co-accused in this case to deliver the said gifts to her," the statement read.
In addition to these gifts, the statement also said that Chandrasekhar gave funds to the tune of $1,72,913 (about Rs 1.3 crore as per the current exchange rate) and AUD 26,740 (approximately Rs 14 lakh) to Fernandez's close family members "out of the proceeds of crime through co-accused Avtar Singh Kochhar, an established and well known international hawala operator."
In December last year, the ED filed the first charge sheet in this matter before the court of Additional Sessions Judge Praveen Singh.
In February 2022, the ED filed a supplementary charge sheet against one Pinky Irani, an alleged aide of Chandrashekhar who introduced him to Jacqueline.
Last year, the 2006 Miss Universe Sri Lanka, who made her debut in the Hindi film industry in 2009 with 'Aladin', confessed to the ED that she "received" gifts like three designer bags from Gucci, Chanel, two Gucci outfits for gym wear, a pair of Louis Vuitton shoes, two pairs of diamond earrings and a bracelet of multi-coloured stones and two Hermes bracelets from Chandrashekhar. She further said she returned a Mini Cooper car that she had similarly received. Her statement was recorded in August and October last year.
The agency found in its probe that Chandrashekhar was in "regular contact" with Fernandez since February till he got arrested on August 7 last year (by the Delhi Police).
The ED has arrested a total of eight people in this case till now including Chandrashekhar, his wife Leena Maria Paul, Irani and others and has also filed two charge sheets before a Delhi court.
Reports suggest Chandrashekhar had spent around Rs 20 crore on different models and Bollywood celebrities. A few celebrities had refused to take gifts from him.
The actress was spotted outside the ED headquarters for a fresh round of questioning in a money-laundering case. She was issued fresh summons for recording her statement as the agency is tracking the remaining proceeds of crime in this case, according to the officials.
The 36-year-old, along with Bollywood actress-dancer Nora Fatehi, had already recorded her statement as a witness in the case last year. She has also been questioned two-three times by the agency earlier.
In April, the central agency had provisionally attached Fernandez's Rs 7.27 crore funds (fixed deposits worth Rs 7.12 crore and Rs 15 lakh cash) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), calling these funds "proceeds of crime".
In a statement issued by the ED, Chandrasekhar gave the actress various gifts worth Rs 5.71 crore from the proceeds of crime generated by criminal activities including extortion. "Chandrasekhar had put Pinky Irani, his long-time associate and co-accused in this case to deliver the said gifts to her," the statement read.
In addition to these gifts, the statement also said that Chandrasekhar gave funds to the tune of $1,72,913 (about Rs 1.3 crore as per the current exchange rate) and AUD 26,740 (approximately Rs 14 lakh) to Fernandez's close family members "out of the proceeds of crime through co-accused Avtar Singh Kochhar, an established and well known international hawala operator."
In December last year, the ED filed the first charge sheet in this matter before the court of Additional Sessions Judge Praveen Singh.
In February 2022, the ED filed a supplementary charge sheet against one Pinky Irani, an alleged aide of Chandrashekhar who introduced him to Jacqueline.
Last year, the 2006 Miss Universe Sri Lanka, who made her debut in the Hindi film industry in 2009 with 'Aladin', confessed to the ED that she "received" gifts like three designer bags from Gucci, Chanel, two Gucci outfits for gym wear, a pair of Louis Vuitton shoes, two pairs of diamond earrings and a bracelet of multi-coloured stones and two Hermes bracelets from Chandrashekhar. She further said she returned a Mini Cooper car that she had similarly received. Her statement was recorded in August and October last year.
The agency found in its probe that Chandrashekhar was in "regular contact" with Fernandez since February till he got arrested on August 7 last year (by the Delhi Police).
The ED has arrested a total of eight people in this case till now including Chandrashekhar, his wife Leena Maria Paul, Irani and others and has also filed two charge sheets before a Delhi court.
Reports suggest Chandrashekhar had spent around Rs 20 crore on different models and Bollywood celebrities. A few celebrities had refused to take gifts from him.
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