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Money laundering probe: ED questions actor Jacqueline Fernandez
In April, the agency attached Fernandez’s funds fixed deposits worth ₹7.12 crore and ₹15 lakh in cash as “proceeds of crime”
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday questioned Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez in New Delhi in its money laundering probe against conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar.
An official aware of the matter said they needed some further clarifications from Fernandez as they continue to trace Chandrasekhar’s proceeds of crime.
In April, the agency attached Fernandez’s funds fixed deposits worth ₹7.12 crore and ₹15 lakh in cash as “proceeds of crime”. She was earlier questioned in August last year.
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Chandrasekhar, who is lodged in New Delhi’s Tihar Prison, allegedly gave expensive gifts to Fernandez, which she said she eventually returned.
An ED statement in April cited its investigation and said it revealed Chandrasekhar gave her gifts worth ₹5.71 crore from the alleged proceeds of crime generated by criminal activities including extortion. ”In addition to these gifts, he had also given funds to the tune of $ 1,72,913 and AUD 26,740 to the close family members of Jacqueline Fernandez through co-accused Avtar Singh Kochhar, an established and well known international hawala operator.
It added Chandrasekhar delivered ₹15 lakh to a script writer on behalf of Fernandez as advance for writing a script of her web series project.
Fernandez has admitted to getting gifts as well as having holidaying in private jets but said she never participated in any illicit deals.
Chandrasekhar was arrested in April 2017 for alleged taking money from All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) (Amma) leader T T V Dhinakaran to bribe in the Election Commission of India officials in connection with a dispute over the allocation of AIADMK’s poll symbol.
He spoofed calls from Tihar to dupe people by impersonating as government officials. He allegedly contacted the wife of former Ranbaxy promoter Shivinder Mohan Singh in 2020 posing as Union home, law secretaries as well as an officer from the Prime Minister’s Office to extort over ₹200 crore from her over on the pretext of contribution to party funds. She claimed she received a call in June 2020 from a man posing as a law ministry official offering help to secure bail for her husband, who was in jail at that time, in return for money.
In August last year, ED found Chandrasekhar owned properties including a plush bungalow in Chennai and 26 cars.
