Key facts
- A Supreme Court judge, Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra, recused himself from hearing Jacqueline Fernandez's plea.
- The plea challenges the framing of charges against Fernandez in a Rs 200 crore money laundering case.
- The case involves alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar.
- The matter has been listed before another bench for June 25.
- The Enforcement Directorate is investigating the case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.
Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra of the Supreme Court on Thursday recused himself from hearing a petition filed by Bollywood actor Jacqueline Fernandez. The petition challenges a Delhi trial court order that framed charges against her and alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar in a Rs 200 crore money laundering case.
A bench comprising Justices PK Mishra and AS Chandurkar directed that the matter be listed before another bench on June 25. At the outset, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the bench that he was appearing for the investigating agency, the Enforcement Directorate (ED).
Justice Mishra stated that there was some difficulty and the case would be heard by a different bench, as his son had appeared for the government side in one of the connected matters. Fernandez is challenging the May 30 order from Patiala House Court, which directed the framing of charges against her in the case being investigated by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
On May 30, Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Prashant Sharma had held that a prima facie case was made out against Fernandez, noting sufficient material to indicate she received luxurious gifts from Chandrashekhar despite knowing his criminal background and that she was in connivance with him to conceal proceeds of crime.
Charges were formally framed against Chandrashekhar and Fernandez, among others, on June 3, after which the trial commenced. Fernandez had previously applied to turn an approver in the ED case, but withdrew the application on April 16 after the agency opposed it. Both Chandrashekhar and his wife were arrested by the Delhi Police in September 2021 for their alleged role in the case and are currently in judicial custody.