₹200 crore extortion case: Court frames charges; Jacqueline Fernandez, Sukesh Chandrasekhar, Leena Maria Paul, More | Today’s news
Patiala House court on Wednesday formal charges against Bollywood actors Jacqueline Fernandez, Sukesh Chandrasekhar and Leena Maria Paul in money laundering case. They were brought to trial.
Charges are also formally framed under MCOCA linked to extortion charges against Sukesh Chandrasekhar, Leena Maria Paula and others.
Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Prashant Sharma formally framed charges against the relevant accused persons in a money laundering and MCOCA case related to the alleged extortion of Rs. 200 crore from Aditi Singh.
Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez appeared before the court and denied the charges. She claimed that a money laundering case had been opened. She is only charged with money laundering.
However, Sukesh signed the charges in the money laundering case; he refused to sign the chargesheet in the MCOCA case.
His wife Leena Maria signed the chargesheet protesting the MCOCA case.
Everyone else signed the indictment and demanded a trial. There are 17 accused in the MCOCA case and 21 accused in the money laundering case.
The money laundering case is listed for hearing on July 16 and the MCOCA case is listed for hearing on July 14.
The court records the evidence of the prosecution in both cases according to the list of witnesses provided by the prosecution.
On May 30, the court ordered framing of charges against Sukesh Chandrasekhar, Leena Maria Paula, Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandes and others in an alleged money laundering case involving Rs. 200 crores alleged extortion from Aditi Singh.
Charges were also leveled against Sukesh Chandrasekhar, Leena Maria Paul and others in an MCOCA case involving Rs. Alleged extortion of 200 million crowns. Jacqueline is not accused in the extortion case.
What did the judge say?
Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Prashant Sharma ordered the charge sheet against the accused persons in both the cases.
“I have come to the conclusion that prima facie there is sufficient material to raise strong suspicion against all the accused persons namely Sukesh Chandrasekhar, Leena Maria Paul alias Leena Paulos, Deepak Ramnani, Pradeep Ramdanee, B. Mohanraj, Arun Muthu, D. Kamlesh Kothari, Pinky Irani, Jacqueline S Mahandangender, Pramosad D Sundriyal, Sunder Bora, Komal Poddar, Jitender Narula, Avinash Kumar, Jai Prakash Singhal, for which the accused persons must be charged with an offense under Section 3 of PMLA, punishable under Section 4 of PMLA,” ASJ Prashant Sharma while framing charges in the money laundering case.
Delhi Police has registered a case against Aditi Singh. After that, the Enforcement Directorate filed a money laundering case.
The Delhi High Court has dismissed a plea by Jacqueline Fernandes seeking to quash the additional charge against her. She was named in the supplementary charge sheet filed by the ED.
After taking cognizance of the ED charge sheet, he issued summons to Jacqueline Fernandes. She was released on bail after appearing in court.
Sukesh Chandrasekhar is in custody. However, his wife was released on bail by the High Court in a money laundering case. Her bail plea under MCOCA was rejected by the Delhi High Court. The bail pleas of the other accused are subservient to the Delhi High Court.
On June 1, the Delhi High Court refused to let the formal framing of charges remain. Sukesh Chandrasekhar approached the Supreme Court.
Recently, Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandes withdrew her consent plea in a money laundering case. (OR)
