New Delhi: In a new development in the Rs 200 crore Prevention of Money Laundering case involving multimillionaire conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar, the Delhi Police Economic Offences Wing (EOW) on Monday summoned Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez to join the investigation on Wednesday.
She was supposed to appear on Monday, but the date was changed due to some reasons. Jacqueline Fernandez had requested that the investigation be postponed in an email to the Delhi Police.
The police agreed to her request. She was summoned once more. Earlier in the first week of September, EOW recorded the testimony of another Bollywood actress, Nora Fatehi, in the case. Chandrashekhar was arrested for allegedly defrauding and extorting several high-profile individuals, including Aditi Singh, the wife of former Fortis Healthcare promoter Shivinder Mohan Singh.
Pinky Irani has also been summoned to join the investigation by the economic offenses wing. Irani appears to have assisted Sukesh in contacting Jacqueline Fernandez because she knew both of them.
Pinky and Jacqueline may be confronted during questioning to gain more clarity in the case, according to sources. Jacqueline has been informed that her investigation may be extended for a couple of days or back to back, and she has been advised to plan her stay in Delhi accordingly.
Previously, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) named Jacqueline in their charge sheet in the Sukesh money laundering case.
According to the enforcement agency charge sheet, actor Jacqueline was aware of Sukesh's involvement in criminal cases, but she chose to ignore his criminal history and engage in financial transactions with him.
"The set of questions prepared for Jacqueline differs from those asked of Nora Fatehi, who was previously called for questioning in the case," another officer said.
They must also determine whether both of the actresses involved in the case were unaware of each other receiving gifts, according to the officer. Over the FIR filed by the Delhi Police, the ED filed a money laundering case in the alleged scam. According to the agency, Fernandez's statements were recorded on August 30 and October 20, 2021, during which she admitted to receiving gifts from Chandrashekar.
Several Bollywood actors and models have been questioned by the Enforcement Directorate regarding their alleged connections to Chandrashekhar. Chandrashekhar was arrested in April of last year in another money laundering case related to the 2017 Election Commission bribery case, allegedly involving a former AIADMK leader.