Delhi court grants bail to Jacqueline Fernandez in money laundering case

A Delhi court on Tuesday granted actor Jacqueline Fernandez bail in the Rs 200 crore money laundering case involving conman Sukesh Chandrashekar on a personal bond of 2 lakh.

On November 11, special judge Shailendra Malik had said the order was not ready and extended the interim protection granted to Fernandez, a Sri Lankan national, till Tuesday

After hearing from lawyers representing both the actor and the Enforcement Directorate, the court on Thursday had deferred its decision (ED).

The central agency’s decision not to arrest Fernandez during the course of the case inquiry had been called into doubt by the court during the arguments. “Despite issuing a LOC, why haven’t you (ED) detained Jacqueline yet throughout the investigation? Other suspects are incarcerated. The special judge had questioned why different standards were being used.

You can’t have a pick-and-choose policy. There must be reasons for not arresting (an accused),” the court remarked.

Responding to the court’s poser, advocate Shailesh N Pathak, appearing for the agency, said that a Lookout Circular (LoC) was already open against the actor and so the Investigating Officer (IO) did not exercise his power of arrest.

In the supplementary charge sheet, Fernandez, who had previously been subpoenaed by the ED in connection with the investigation, was for the first time listed as an accused.

She was not listed as an accused in either the original charge sheet or the supplemental charge sheet from the ED.

The specifics of the remarks made by Fernandez and fellow actor Nora Fatehi were, however, disclosed in the records.