Jacqueline Fernandez
Delhi High Court allowed Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez, against whom a lookout notice was issued by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with an alleged money laundering case, to travel abroad for the IIFA Awards, subject to certain conditions. Justice Sudhir Kumar Jain, while dealing with the probe agency’s challenge for the trial court’s permission to travel to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, from May 31 to June 6, granted a fixed deposit receipt (FDR) of Rs 1 crore to the film star. instructed to submit. And give an undertaking that if she does not return, she will be forfeited along with a surety of Rs 1 crore.
The judge said there was no need to interfere with the trial court’s order as it was passed after considering relevant facts and appropriate conditions were imposed on the actor to ensure that he returns and joins the investigation. Go.
“The condition mentioned in para 10 (i) of the impugned order is modified to the extent that the respondent shall deposit an FDR of Rs. 1 crore in favor of the petitioner before the concerned court,” the court said in its order passed on May 30.
The court disposed of the ED’s plea and directed Fernandez not to tamper with evidence or interfere with the investigation.
“A perusal of the impugned order shows that the trial court has considered the relevant facts of the case and also imposed reasonable conditions on the respondent to ensure his return to this country and to join further investigation.
“No interference is required in the impugned order dated 28.05.2022. However it is made that the respondent shall not interfere or tamper with the evidence or investigation of the present ECIR/DLZO-II/54/2021 in any way in the matter ” “It said.
The ED had last year issued a lookout circular (LOC) against Fernandez in the Rs 200 crore extortion case involving alleged swindler Sukesh Chandrasekhar.
Fernandez is a Sri Lankan citizen and has been living in India since 2009.
The probe agency, represented by Additional Solicitor General SV Raju, criticized the trial court’s order suspending the LoC on several grounds, including that Fernandez may have escaped to evade investigation and has not properly participated in the investigation.
Fernandez had earlier moved the trial court seeking permission to travel abroad for 15 days, saying it required him to attend events in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates, France and Nepal.
In her application before the trial court, Fernandez had claimed that being a renowned film actress, she was invited to attend events, press conferences, rehearsals and IIFA award ceremonies and had asked for her passport to be released. had prayed.
The ED had barred him from going abroad on the grounds that he might have to join the ongoing money laundering probe.
The ED has questioned the actor over several sessions in connection with its probe into the case against Chandrashekhar and his actor wife Leena Maria Paul. The agency had earlier filed a chargesheet before a court under sections of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and named Chandrashekhar, his wife and six others in it.
It alleged that Chandrashekhar had given the actor several expensive gifts, including some Persian cats and a horse. Chandrashekhar is accused of defrauding several people, including some high-profile individuals like Aditi Singh, wife of Shivinder Mohan Singh, former promoter of Fortis Healthcare.
Another Bollywood actress-dancer Nora Fatehi has also been questioned by the ED in this case.