Jacqueline Fernandez Seeks To Turn Approver In 200Cr Money Laundering Case

Actor Jacqueline Fernandez has told Patiala House Court that Jacqueline Fernandez wants to become an approver in the Rs 200 crore money laundering case involving alleged conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar. The court heard the request during the latest hearing and asked Jacqueline Fernandez to move a proper application before the competent authority, signalling a possible shift in strategy in the long-running investigation.

Jacqueline Fernandez made this request on 17 April during proceedings in New Delhi, where the Enforcement Directorate has been pursuing a money laundering case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. The matter has kept Jacqueline Fernandez linked to serious allegations for several years, even though Jacqueline Fernandez has already secured bail in the case.

Jacqueline Fernandez money laundering case: what turning approver means

Under Indian criminal law, an approver is an accused who agrees to assist the prosecution by giving evidence against other accused persons. In return, the court may grant a pardon or reduced punishment. This benefit is not automatic, as judges first check whether the testimony appears truthful, complete and useful for the wider investigation.

If Jacqueline Fernandez is allowed to turn approver, Jacqueline Fernandez could be required to give detailed statements about dealings with Sukesh Chandrasekhar and associates. Courts generally expect an approver to fully disclose their role and share all relevant information. Any false statement can lead to the withdrawal of the pardon and revival of prosecution against the approver.

Jacqueline Fernandez money laundering case: alleged extortion operation

The money laundering case centres on allegations that Sukesh Chandrasekhar ran a large-scale extortion racket from inside Rohini jail. Investigators claim Sukesh Chandrasekhar used phone spoofing tools to impersonate senior government officials. According to the case, Aditi Singh, wife of former Ranbaxy owner Shivinder Singh, was cheated of more than Rs 200 crore.

Authorities say Aditi Singh believed the payments were being made to secure bail and legal relief for Shivinder Singh. The Enforcement Directorate later registered a money laundering case, stating that the funds collected through this alleged fraud were routed into various assets and luxury items. These assets, investigators claim, included gifts supplied to several people, among them Jacqueline Fernandez.

Jacqueline Fernandez money laundering case: ED allegations and defence

The Enforcement Directorate filed a chargesheet naming Jacqueline Fernandez as an accused, stating that Jacqueline Fernandez received gifts worth several crores that investigators classify as proceeds of crime. These alleged gifts included luxury items and other benefits linked to money traced back to the extortion scheme. The agency claims Jacqueline Fernandez was in regular contact with Sukesh Chandrasekhar during the period under investigation.

Jacqueline Fernandez has repeatedly said that Jacqueline Fernandez was misled by Sukesh Chandrasekhar, who allegedly introduced Sukesh Chandrasekhar as a government official and influential figure. According to Jacqueline Fernandez, there was no knowledge of any illegal activity behind the gifts or interactions. Despite this stand, both Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court have refused to quash the proceedings, directing that the trial should go on.

Jacqueline Fernandez money laundering case: role of Pinky Irani

Mumbai-based Pinky Irani has been described in Enforcement Directorate documents as a key aide of Sukesh Chandrasekhar. Pinky Irani allegedly helped connect Sukesh Chandrasekhar with Bollywood personalities, including Jacqueline Fernandez, while portraying Sukesh Chandrasekhar as a wealthy businessperson. Pinky Irani was arrested during the investigation and is also facing charges linked to the same case.

Investigators say Pinky Irani coordinated meetings, calls and exchanges between Sukesh Chandrasekhar and film industry figures. These interactions reportedly formed the channel through which gifts and other benefits reached Jacqueline Fernandez. The Enforcement Directorate has argued that this chain shows how money from the alleged extortion was converted into high-value presents.

Jacqueline Fernandez money laundering case: key dates and developments

The case stretches over several years, with multiple agencies involved and many hearings before different courts. The events below outline how the investigation and prosecution have unfolded from the first alleged spoof calls to Jacqueline Fernandez’s latest step seeking approver status.

Date / Period	Event
2020	Sukesh Chandrasekhar, already in Rohini jail, allegedly starts making spoof calls to Aditi Singh, posing as top government officials and offering help to secure Shivinder Singh’s release.
August 2021	Aditi Singh files a complaint with Delhi Police’s Economic Offences Wing, leading to an FIR for alleged extortion of Rs 200 crore against Sukesh Chandrasekhar and others.
2021–2022	The Enforcement Directorate opens a money laundering probe, arresting Sukesh Chandrasekhar, spouse Leena Maria Paulose and several associates. Pinky Irani is also arrested for allegedly linking Sukesh Chandrasekhar with Bollywood figures, including Jacqueline Fernandez.
November 2022	Patiala House Court grants bail to Jacqueline Fernandez in the PMLA case. The Enforcement Directorate’s chargesheet lists Jacqueline Fernandez as an accused for allegedly accepting expensive gifts bought with crime proceeds.
July 2025	Delhi High Court dismisses Jacqueline Fernandez’s plea seeking to quash the FIR and chargesheet, clearing the way for the trial to proceed.
September 2025	The Supreme Court declines to interfere with the High Court’s order and advises Jacqueline Fernandez to seek relief at appropriate stages during trial.
April 2026	Jacqueline Fernandez appears before Patiala House Court and expresses a wish to become an approver, adding a new dimension to the Jacqueline Fernandez money laundering case.

Jacqueline Fernandez money laundering case: trial status and next steps

The main trial in the Prevention of Money Laundering Act case is continuing at Patiala House Court, where evidence from the Enforcement Directorate and defence is expected to be examined over several hearings. The court’s direction to Jacqueline Fernandez to file a formal application means the request to turn approver will be assessed through a detailed legal process.

If the application is filed, prosecutors and the court will evaluate whether Jacqueline Fernandez’s proposed testimony can aid the case against other accused persons, including Sukesh Chandrasekhar. Any decision on granting pardon, changing charges or altering Jacqueline Fernandez’s status will depend on this assessment and the legal standards for accepting an approver.

Author Mudit Bhatnagar, who has nearly nine years of experience as a Senior Copy Writer and mainly covers Bollywood, has been tracking developments in the case as they pass through different stages in Delhi courts. The focus now rests on how Jacqueline Fernandez’s move to seek approver status may shape future hearings in the Jacqueline Fernandez money laundering case.