The Delhi High Court on Thursday reserved its order on Bollywood star Jacqueline Fernandez’s plea for relief in a case of money laundering which was filed by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). The case, booked under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) centers around allegations the allegation that Jacqueline received luxury gifts and benefits from alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar, who is currently in jail.
Justice Anish Dayal reserved his verdict after hearing elaborate submissions from both sides. Senior Advocate Sidharth Aggarwal represented Jacqueline, while Special Counsel Zoheb Hossain represented the ED.
ED Argues Against Relief For Jacqueline
Contrary to the actor’s appeal, the ED contended that Jacqueline went on receiving costly and luxurious gifts from Sukesh even after she was aware of his criminal background. The ED alleged that her request to remove her name from the case was a tactic to interfere with the judicial process. They contended that the evidences against her are strong and deserved further investigation and trial.
Jacqueline’s Lawyers Cite Damage To Reputation
In Jacqueline’s behalf, Senior Advocate Sidharth Aggarwal, along with Advocate Prashant Patil, requested the court to take into consideration the irreparable loss to her reputation.”Being a public figure and being labelled a money launderer carries significant stigma” argued Aggarwal. He clarified that the actor was not asking for the entire complaint to be quashed but only the proceedings related to her..
As the court now deliberates its decision, Jacqueline Fernandez’s legal fate continues to hang in the balance. The outcome of the reserved order could have far-reaching implications.
